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Giorgia Meloni will be Italy’s first woman leader and first rightwing Prime Minister since WWII. The rise of the Brothers of Italy party is a case study in the continued prominence of culture war politics and the implosion of centrist parties. Just how radical will Meloni’s government be?  

The country progressing under the steady, technocratic and respected leadership of Mario Draghi has just done a shocking U-turn. Italy just elected a coalition under the leadership of the far-right Brothers of Italy party. Giorgia Meloni will be the next Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, its first woman leader, and the first rightwing Prime Minister since WWII. While campaigning, she positioned herself as more moderate, backed away from the party’s neo-fascist roots. Meloni made anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigrant and anti-US comments, but has since moderated her tone to attract younger voters. She has also been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine and regularly criticizes Putin. However, other members of the incoming ruling coalition are vociferously pro-Putin. What will be the direction of the new Italian government?

Altamar hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Erik Jones, Director of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic examines youth apathy and low voter turnout.