Far Right?

politics
the more extreme supporters or advocates of social, political, or economic conservatism or reaction, based generally on a belief that things are better left unchanged

www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/the-far-right

Far Right leader Georgia Meloni is set to become Italy's first woman Prime Minister. Meloni is expected to form Italy's most right-wing government since World War II.

Italy has ushered in a new political era with the widely expected election of right-wing politician Giorgia Meloni as the country’s first female Prime Minister.

Ms Meloni swept to victory as the leader of a right-wing alliance comprised of her Brothers of Italy party, Matteo Salvini’s League and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forward Italy, which collectively received around 44 per cent of the vote.

This is an emphatic victory for the coalition, which is expected to win a clear-cut majority in both houses of the Italian parliament.

However, voter turnout for Sunday’s election was at a historic low of 64 per cent, a large drop compared to the previous election.

Italian politics has been experiencing a long-term decline in voter participation, with the amount of people showing up to vote in elections dwindling over the last 30 years.

For a country which once enjoyed voter turnouts of over 90 per cent, the low figures from Sunday’s election suggests a public weary of the political status quo.

Founded in 2012, the Brothers of Italy party has never held power before, and represents a chance for change to many Italian voters.

Italy has faced two decades of declining living standards and is home to some of Europe’s highest unemployment rates and lowest birth rates.

The nation has also been hard hit by the repercussions of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and is facing soaring energy prices and an economy under increasing pressure.

Ms Meloni successfully harnessed these anxieties, campaigning under the slogan of “God, country and family”.

She promised a prioritisation of Italian interests over the EU’s, a tougher stance on immigration and a return to Catholic family values.

Speaking after Sunday’s vote, Ms Meloni promised to govern for all Italians and not betray people’s trust.

La mia intervista alla CNN

Sky News contributor Joe Hildebrand says the “elite, cultural left” assume working class people are “really stupid” and can’t speak for themselves.

“They’ll go after (Giorgia) Meloni, for example, ignoring the fact that millions and millions of Italians voted for her,” he told Sky News host Paul Murray.

GT Communications’ Gemma Tognini says the debate over newly elected Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been “such a fascinating conversation” due to how she is perceived locally and globally.

“As with most things, there’s a massive disconnect between commentary from academics and those who aren’t actually on the ground here talking to people, and certainly not empirical data,” she told Sky News host Chris Kenny.

“I spent a week before the election – and many days post, and actually even over the weekend – speaking to family and friends.”

Ms Tognini said Italy was “in many ways flagging a warning” to the West as domestic headlines focus on the high cost of the living and the open border.

“Nobody here is talking about the return of neo-fascism, not even the institutional left,” she said.