The far-right Giorgia Meloni, considered the favorite to be prime minister in the Italian elections on September 25, released this Thursday (11) videos sent to the international press denying that she is a threat to democracy and condemning fascism.
She says she decided to take the initiative after reading reports in the European press in which she is described as “a danger to Italian, European and international democracy and stability”. Meloni is leader of the Brothers of Italy party, which achieves between 22% and 24% of voting preferences and leads the polls for the early election after the resignation of Mario Draghi.
The policy responded to what it considers attacks with videos of about six minutes each, recorded in Spanish, English and French, and sent directly to newsrooms at mainland newspapers and websites on Wednesday. This Thursday, she published them on her social media channel.
The material is entitled “We are ready to govern Italy” and is justified by an introduction stating that the foreign press “is inspired by the left”.
In it, Meloni states: “I have read that the victory of the Brothers of Italy in the September elections would be a disaster, which would lead to authoritarian change, Italy’s exit from the euro zone and other such nonsense. None of this is true.”
She then reinforces the offensive against the press by stating that the reports are linked “to a powerful left-wing media circuit, which in Italy is very strong”. “I categorically deny this absurd narrative,” she says.
The speculations are because the Brothers of Italy party was founded by Meloni in 2012 with a nationalist, Eurosceptic (unbeliever about the European Union) platform and against what she calls the “LGBTQIA+ lobby”, “Islamist violence” and “mass immigration”. “.
Today, the legend has 130,000 members, 21 seats in the Senate and 37 in the Chamber. Its leader, compared to other figures of the populist radical right in Europe, such as the French Marine Le Pen, gained notability when she was elected deputy at the age of 29 and, later, when she took over as the youngest minister in the country, in the Youth portfolio under the fourth government of Silvio Berlusconi (2008-2011).
Among his controversial statements is when he suggested a naval blockade in Africa to prevent refugee boats from reaching the Italian coast. In 2019, he delivered a speech that analysts consider to be the catapult to the strength he has today: he spoke out against immigration, the Islamization of Europe, adoption by homosexuals, the legalization of drugs and Italian submission to the interests of France and Germany. “I’m Giorgia. A woman, a mother, a Christian,” he introduced himself.
In this Thursday’s videos, she sought some note of moderation, without completely escaping from the concepts of nationalist background. “What do we want for Italy’s future? We want it to go back to being that great, dynamic and innovative nation, appreciated all over the world and which contributed to the greatness of Europe”, she says.
Echoing a speech also repeated by the Brazilian Jair Bolsonaro (PL), he adds: “With the left in power, the State has become the enemy of citizens and companies, increasingly violating individual freedoms. Yes, freedom [sorri]. Freedom is our most prized possession.”
According to her, the Italian right turned away from fascism decades ago. “We unambiguously condemn the deprivation of democracy and the infamous anti-Jewish laws. And of course we also condemn Nazism and Communism, the only one of the century’s totalitarian ideologies that is still in power in some countries, surviving its tragic failures.”
The resigning Draghi followed a centrist guide, leading a coalition of national unity for the pacification of the country’s known political instability. The alliance spanned all political spectrums and had only the Brothers of Italy in formal opposition — until the right-wing populist 5 Star Movement and the ultra-rightist Matteo Salvini’s League imploded the deal.
The latter, with Berlusconi’s Força, Italia, formed an agreement with Meloni for the September election — for him, the most voted party of the three will be responsible for choosing the new name of the government; according to the 45-year-old Roman, it will be hers.
On the other hand, the center and the left have clashed: the formation of an alliance led by Enrico Letta’s PD (Democratic Party) has already had a defection, from Carlo Calenda’s Action. On Wednesday, he announced a new partnership, with former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s Italia Viva.
Faced with the fear of the rise to power of the far right in the third largest economy in the European Union amid the uncertainties of facing the consequences of the pandemic and the Ukrainian War, Meloni claims in the video to lead a group of loyal, honest and decisive people. “And we are ready for the start of a new era of stability, freedom and prosperity for Italy, whether the left likes it or not.”
