The European Union, initially wary of the far-right coming to power in Italy, said it would “cooperate” with the Eurosceptic government of Giorgia Meloni, which was sworn in on Saturday and is due to take office on Sunday.
“Congratulations to Giorgia Meloni on her appointment as Prime Minister, the first woman to hold the position,” tweeted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “In view of the challenges we must face together, I am counting on constructive cooperation with the new government.”
“Let’s work together for the good of Italy and the EU,” wrote EU Council President Charles Michel.
“Europe needs Italy. Together we will overcome all difficulties,” added European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in a tweet written in Italian.
These reactions in the chorus of the three most important European institutions contrasted with the silence of the big capitals Berlin, Paris and Madrid.
The very conservative Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a Brussels darling, was one of the few European leaders to congratulate Ms Meloni and hailed “a great day for the European right”.
The European extreme right also celebrated: “All over Europe patriots are coming to power and with them this Europe of nations that we are demanding,” said Marine Le Pen in France.
Beneath the gold of Rome’s Quirinal Palace, Mrs. Meloni and her 24 ministers – only 6 of whom are women – swore “respect for the Constitution and the law” before President Sergio Mattarella.
“Here is the government team that will serve Italy with pride and responsibility. Now back to work,” Ms Meloni said in a tweet, which was accompanied by an official government photo. Also present at the ceremony were Ms Meloni’s relatives, including her 41-year-old companion, journalist Andrea Giambruno, and their six-year-old daughter Ginevra.
The 45-year-old Roman, who won a historic victory in Italy’s Sept. 25 general election, managed to “undemonize” her post-fascist Fratelli d’Italia party to come to power exactly a century after fascist dictator Benito Mussolini , whose admirer she was.
The transfer of power between Mario Draghi and Giorgia Meloni will take place on Sunday at 3.30am (QC) at the Chigi Palace, the seat of government, followed by the first Council of Ministers.
She has an absolute majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate with her coalition partners, the populist leader of the (anti-immigrant) League Matteo Salvini and the declining leader of Forza Italia Silvio Berlusconi.
The composition of the new government reflects a desire to reassure Rome’s partners concerned about the seizure of power by the most far-right and Eurosceptic leader since 1946 in Italy, Europe’s founding country.
Before the election, Ms von der Leyen had also caused an outcry in Italy by referring to “the tools” Brussels would have at its disposal to sanction possible attacks on the EU’s democratic principles in the event of a victory for the extreme right.
The appointment of former President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani, member of Forza Italia, and that of Giancarlo Giorgetti, a representative of the moderate wing of the Lega, with the title of Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs, which are already ministers in the outgoing government of Mario Draghi in the economy, Brussels should calm down.
At a time when the euro zone’s third largest economy, like its neighbors, is in a difficult economic situation due to the energy crisis and inflation, Ms Meloni promises a difficult task, especially as she must ensure the unity of its coalition, which is already showing cracks .
MM. Salvini and Berlusconi are reluctant to recognize the authority of Giorgia Meloni, whose party received 26% of the votes in the elections, against only 8% for Forza Italia and 9% for the Lega.
The media have repeated the multiple arms sales between the three leaders over the distribution of positions in parliament and government.
Ms Meloni, herself an Atlanticist and a supporter of supporting Ukraine against Russia, had to face controversial remarks this week from Mr Berlusconi, who claimed he had reconnected with Vladimir Putin and blamed Kyiv for the war.
Statements of worst effect that forced Ms Meloni to rectify the situation on Wednesday by asserting that Italy is “fully part and with its head held high” of Europe and NATO.
A gifted speaker, however, this conservative Christian, hostile to LGBT rights, has pledged not to touch the abortion-authorizing law.
Above all, his government must focus on the many challenges, especially economic ones, that await him, starting with inflation and a colossal debt that accounts for 150% of gross domestic product (GDP), the highest ratio in the eurozone after Greece.