No celebrations, no press conferences: the election winner is avoiding the public these days. She is preparing for her future role as head of government and is already working on the list of ministers.
The Italian right-wing populist Giorgia Meloni silent after her Victory in the parliamentary elections on Sunday. After celebrating briefly with her supporters on election night and thanking the Italians for their trust, the head of the right-wing party Fratelli d’Italia (FdI – Brothers of Italy) only tweeted. No big celebrations at party headquarters, no militant slogans: the election winner is avoiding the public these days.
Wearing a pink basketball cap at the wheel of her private car, Meloni was photographed outside her apartment. She avoids journalists. After meeting with allies Matteo Salvini from the right LegaParty on Tuesday afternoon, only a simple press release was published in which the two future government coalition partners reaffirmed their firm will to cooperate. No official dates are scheduled with Meloni this week. Your spokeswoman is silent. After being omnipresent during the election campaign in midsummer, the Roman Meloni went into hiding and the media are now wondering: Where is the election winner?
Silence as a “necessary strategy”
According to her closest associate, the 45-year-old politician is recovering from the rigors of a tough election campaign after winning. She needs time for her six-year-old daughter. She is also thinking about the next political steps. “Silence may be a necessary strategy to avoid mistakes, because Meloni knows perfectly well that all microphones, TV cameras, cell phones, eyes and ears are on her, in Italy and abroad,” commented the Roman daily “The Republic“.
According to leaks, Meloni is preparing for her future role as head of government and is already working on the list of ministers. She would be the first woman in this capacity in Italy. After years on the hard benches of the opposition, the Fratelli d´Italia, who have increased their votes sixfold since the 2018 parliamentary elections, would have to assume government responsibility, which is a huge hurdle in the current difficult phase with challenges at home and abroad.
In the past 15 months, Meloni had been in the cabinet of the internationally popular ex-ECB boss Mario Draghi sharply criticized, the professional politician from the left-wing working class district of Garbatella must now prove her ability to govern and show the way to solving Italy’s many problems. The energy crisis, rising inflation, the threat of recession and illegal immigration are problems that Meloni must confront as a matter of priority. As soon as she is on duty, she has to pass the budget law for the next year with support measures for families and companies. Time is pressing: the budget must be approved by the new parliament by the end of December.
Abortion rights protests
In the meantime, Meloni is already feeling the effects of the opposition in the country. In several Italian cities, including Rome, women took to the streets on Tuesday to demonstrate for abortion rights in Italy. The reason is fears that a future right-wing government under Meloni could make access to abortions more difficult. During the election campaign, the leader of the FdI declared that she wanted to offer women an alternative to abortion.
Access to abortion is already often difficult in Italy, with many Catholic doctors opposed to abortion for reasons of conscience. In many regions it is 80 or 90 percent of doctors who refuse abortions. Meloni said at an election rally that while she would not change the abortion law, she wanted to make it clear that there were “other options”.
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Giorgia Meloni – a threat to Europe?
Some see an opportunity for Italy after the shift to the right, others see a danger for the EU: What do you expect from the election winner in our neighboring country? Will it weaken Europe? Discuss with us!
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