For some, he is a dangerous far-right demagogue. to others, a free-thinking radical who breaks the shackles of convention. So who are you really, George Meloni? When we talk, she is animated, speaks good English and answers at length. Each answer takes a few minutes – Macron Duration, even if not a Macron policy. By next week, however, Ms Meloni will almost certainly have completed a rise to power as rapid as the French president. Four years ago, her Brothers of Italy party achieved a paltry 4% in the general election. this time he will probably win six or seven times more and become prime minister of Italy. “I know Italians,” he says. “They know exactly who we are. We are a conservative party that believes in the national interest of Italy. “We will show that there is no one in the whole world who needs to fear us.” Image: Giorgia Meloni and her partners in the coalition She is, she says, from the political “centre-right” and says she would be “absolutely happy to be the first female prime minister” after a succession of 30 men in the post. He knows he will inherit the country in a period of turmoil, telling me that “all of Italy’s macroeconomic indicators have deteriorated this year,” but he insists the solution lies in stability: “What Italy needs is a government elected by citizens who can stay there for five years to build a vision.” In fact, he knows that Italy is an impatient country, changing governments about once a year since the end of World War II. It will need to make an impact, fast. “I think of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher” So what’s at the top of the list? “The top priority today is supporting families and businesses brought to their knees by inflation and rising energy bills due to Russian aggression against Ukraine. “I believe that the next Italian government should fight at EU level to establish a price cap for natural gas. We are ready to act at national level as well if the EU delays any longer.” It’s an interesting threat – to take unilateral action should the EU suffer. Read more: Meloni’s Twitter controversy Why the fall of Italy’s prime minister worries Western leaders It is an echo of grumbling discontent in various European capitals, even as Ms Meloni insists that, despite her own Euroscepticism, her country is committed to the European Union. “Once the emergency is over, the priorities are to cut taxes, support families and business competitiveness, build strategic infrastructure and invest in a new industrial policy.” If this all sounds familiar, she says that “in the conservative world I think of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher,” but maintains that she is original: “I’m inspired by myself and by a whole new experience that I would like. to be only Italian”. “All of Europe must defend our borders” On immigration, she says her policy “is to be serious” – to stop illegal immigration, carry out asylum checks before people set off for Europe and then distribute refugees across the 27 EU states. Image: Thatcher and Reagan – conservative soul mates “What Italy needs to do is to stop the boats leaving Africa with a European mission. I think all of Europe needs to defend our borders and talk to the North African governments to decide who is a refugee and who is not. “Then we could only distribute the refugees in the same way to the 27 European countries [illegal] immigration is another matter. If they think they can come to Italy without respecting our laws, that is not possible. “It is not solidarity to let a thousand people come to Italy and then live by selling drugs, crime or prostitution. This is not my idea of solidarity. “I don’t think a serious nation can have that kind of behavior.” LGBTQ anger She says she would be “absolutely happy” to become Italy’s first female prime minister and that it would “help a lot of women here” – promising more “family-friendly policies” and, much to the outrage of the LGBTQ community, praising the priority of raising a of a child by a mother and a father – opposes parenting by same-sex couples. Mrs. Meloni, it should be noted, herself brought a single mother to the outskirts of Rome. Our time is running out. As her image fades from the computer screen, she is a candidate with a wide range of ideas. By Monday morning, she will likely be the new leader of her country, challenged to turn ideas into reality.
