Fascist Fears Follow Italy’s Far Right Minister

Giorgia Meloni was sworn in as Italy's first female prime minister on Saturday, Oct. 22, leading the country's most right-wing government since World War II. Meloni, known for supporting radical social and cultural conservatism, stands for nationalism, Euroscepticism and tradition while greatly opposing immigration and LGBTQ+ rights.

This transition caused a worldwide fear that Meloni will convert the Italian government into a fascist dictatorship, normalizing authoritarian politics within the framework of their current democracy.

One of Meloni’s first challenges is ensuring that Italy remains firmly united with other western nations that are assisting Ukraine in fending off the Russian invaders. Despite efforts to underline her sympathy for Ukraine and highlight a more centrist agenda, Melon’s future plans consist of nationalist and eurosceptic ideas, one being the enlargement of the platform of far-right leaders in European politics and a conservative majority in the upper and lower houses of the Italian Parliament.

“The recent election in Italy is seemingly in its very basic form, a reflection of the success and prominence of the conservative party in Italy at this time,” said World History teacher Brian Granados. “In my mind, it is concerning as it also reflects the Italians being ready to accept a post-fascist leader. Obviously, such ideas in regard to fascism and the post-fascist movement were denounced by Italy for the past decades, but are now embraced.”

Although Meloni insists she is not fascist, her actions so far as Prime Minister, as well as the supporting members of her party with fascist backgrounds, have suggested otherwise.