ITALY’S GIORGIA MELONI & HISTORIC CROSSROADS

26 September 2022

Like many western countries, Italy has a highly fragmented political landscape and a worrying level of cynicism plagues the electorate, particularly the youth which represents the nation’s future. 

In Italy’s previous national election in 2018, 74% of eligible voters participated in the poll which has now dropped to 64% in the current election.   

This underscores the need for Giorgia Meloni, who is expected to be Italy’s next prime minister, to reverse this trend as much as possible by reaching out to all Italians and focusing on achieving concrete results.

In her first post-election speech, Meloni assumed a conciliatory tone and seems to have acknowledged the need to reach out across the political spectrum.

However, ordinary Italians ultimately want convincing action and not just compelling rhetoric.  The volatility of Italian politics in recent years underlines this reality as support for parties has rapidly ebbed and flowed.

Fundamentally, the reality of power and the responsibilities it entails differs widely from the rhetoric of the political campaign.   

Giorgia Meloni’s impressive resilience in breaking barriers and defying the odds to become Italy’s first-ever female prime minister is an historic achievement. 

Now she must move above and beyond and rise to the occasion as Italy, and the broader western world, approaches an historic crossroads marked by transformational challenges and disruptive developments on multiple fronts simultaneously with global security and stability hanging in the balance.

At this critical juncture, time is of the essence and the process of responsibly assuming the reins of power must begin immediately.