After the rise of the far-right Marine Le Pen in France, Giorgia Meloni’s star is shining in Italy. Meloni, who fine-tuned her policies to avoid the reaction of the EU, still maintains her anti-Islam and anti-Turkey rhetoric.
Giorgia Meloni , The Leader Of The Far-Right “Brothers Of Italy ” (FdI), a junior partner of right-wing coalitions, who had little weight in Italian politics a few years ago, is on her way to becoming the country’s first female prime minister. Under the leadership of the 45-year-old politician, the party’s vote rate, which was 4 percent in 2018, has become difficult to reach 25 percent according to the latest polls.
The “League” led by the far-right-leaning Matteo Salvini, “Let’s Italy” (Forza Italia) headed by Silvio Berlusconi, and the right-wing bloc formed by FdI are expected to come out first with around 45 percent of the votes in the 25 September elections. Meloni started an intense image work especially in order not to “frighten” the European Union. Meloni, who firmly defends the traditional family structure and is against same-sex marriage and abortion, is anti-Islamic and in favor of strict immigration policies. One of Meloni’s biggest U-turns so far came on the EU issue. Meloni no longer advocates that Italy should leave the EU and its common currency, the Euro.
EFFORTS TO ERASE THE HISTORY
Meloni is trying to erase the past of her party, as the far-right Marine Le Pen did in France. Meloni, who was commented that it could pose a danger to democracy, Europe and international stability, rejects these criticisms and argues that his party is in line with the Conservatives in England. Although Meloni argues that there is no room for fascism nostalgia in his party, the torch in the colors of the Italian flag, which is the emblem of the Italian Social Movement (MSI), founded on the ashes of Benito Mussolini’s regime in 1946, continues to be the symbol of FdI.
TURKEY’S ATTITUDE
Meloni is against Turkey’s current policies. Particularly in favor of ending Turkey’s EU accession negotiations. In the Italian governments, extreme right-wing parties had taken place before, but no steps were taken in this direction, and a positive balance was achieved in the relations. In a possible right-wing coalition led by Meloni, the picture may not be as bright as it used to be.