A historic page is turning in Italy: the post-fascist Giorgia Meloni, the first woman to lead the third economy in the euro zone, took office on Sunday, calling on her government to “stay united”.
“We must be united, there are emergencies that the country must face. We must work together,” she said after the first council of ministers, which lasted about 30 minutes, against a backdrop of tensions with Silvio Berlusconi and Matteo Salvini, members of her coalition.
On Sunday morning, Ms. Meloni was presented by Mario Draghi, the outgoing Prime Minister who is very popular on the international scene, with the bell used by the President of the Council to regulate the debates in the Council of Ministers, after another one-on-one 1 hour to Palazzo Chigi, seat of government in Rome.
A century after Mussolini came to power, this ex-admirer of the Duce has thus taken the head of the most right-wing government in the country since the birth of the Republic in 1946.
On Saturday, the European Union, worried about the coming to power of the far right in Italy, the founding country of Europe, of the most Eurosceptic head of government since the Second World War, said it was ready to ” cooperate” with the Meloni government.
The three major EU institutions congratulated her: Ursula von der Leyen for the European Commission, the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola. Ms. Meloni immediately thanked them, saying she was “ready and eager to work together”.
Debt and inflation
“Today, at the beginning of a new government, we pray for the unity and peace of Italy,” said Pope Francis at the end of his traditional Sunday prayer in St. Peter’s Square.
It was Saturday at the Roman Quirinal Palace that Ms. Meloni, the youngest of this government, and her 24 ministers – including only six women – “swore to respect the Constitution and the laws” before President Sergio Mattarella.
The 45-year-old Roman, who won a historic victory in the September 25 legislative elections, managed to make her Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) party respectable in order to gain power.
She has with her coalition partners, the populist leader of the Antimigrant League Matteo Salvini and the declining leader of Forza Italia Silvio Berlusconi, an absolute majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
Many challenges await, mainly economic, starting with inflation and the debt whose ratio is the highest in the euro zone after Greece.
The composition of the new government reflects the desire to reassure Rome’s partners. Former President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani was appointed to Foreign Affairs, with the title of Deputy Prime Minister, while Giancarlo Giorgetti, a representative of the moderate wing of the League, already a minister in the outgoing government of Mario Draghi inherits the Economy portfolio.
As for Mario Draghi’s energy minister, Roberto Cingolani, he will remain an adviser to the government.
” You are not alone ”
Ms. Meloni’s task promises to be one of the toughest as her coalition is already showing cracks.
MM. Salvini and Berlusconi are reluctant to accept the authority of Giorgia Meloni, whose party won 26% of the vote in the elections, against 8% for Forza Italia and 9% for the League.
An Atlanticist herself and in favor of support for Ukraine against Russia, Ms Meloni had to face this week the polemical remarks of Mr Berlusconi, who claimed to have “reconnected” with Vladimir Putin and blamed kyiv for the war.
Ms. Meloni corrected the situation by asserting that Italy is “fully part and with its head held high” of Europe and NATO.
A message well received in Washington, kyiv and NATO, whose Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed his “congratulations” to Ms. Meloni. US President Joe Biden said on Saturday he was “looking forward” to working with her.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “looking forward to continuing the fruitful cooperation”. ” You are not alone ! Mrs. Meloni answered him: “Italy will always be at the side of the courageous Ukrainian people who are fighting for their freedom and a legitimate peace”.
As Europe’s far-right and conservatives celebrated a “historic” day, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated Giorgia Meloni in Italian.
The other two major European capitals, Paris and Madrid, have remained silent. But Emmanuel Macron, who is going to Rome on Sunday where he will meet the Pope and deliver a speech on peace, could take the opportunity to meet Ms. Meloni, even if no interview is scheduled at this stage.