Italy's First Female Prime Minister Wants To Fight Globalism

Italy’s new governing party: Soon-to-be Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni led her Brothers of Italy party to a decisive election victory. The party is based on “Italy and Italian people first,” fierce opposition to migration and the European Union (EU), and strong support for conservative “family values” and national policies prioritizing Italians.

Giorgia Meloni: “I am Giorgia, I am a woman, I am a mother, I am Italian, I am Christian. No one will take that away from me,” she said. She campaigned heavily against the pandemic lockdowns and mandates and has been compared to Donald Trump and Rep. Alexandra Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.) for her straightforward speaking style.

Globalism

The battle against the EU: Meloni wants to position Italy against the strong hand of the EU—similarly to what Hungary has recently done. The Brussels-based EU—the governing body for most of Europe—has promoted mass migration into the continent, pandemic lockdowns, and financial policies that hurt individual countries.

Italy is part of a growing trend: Just weeks ago, Sweden’s anti-immigration, anti-EU conservatives won the second-largest share of the country’s electorate. On a macro scale, the movement sprouted with America’s rejection of globalism through former President Donald Trump’s election and Brexit (the U.K.’s ultimate departure from the EU).

Political reactions

Italy’s first female prime minister: Although Meloni will become Italy’s first female prime minister, progressives and feminists alike have not celebrated the victory for their cause because of her pro-life, pro-family, and pro-God values. Instead, progressive outlets have written about her “anti-women agenda.”

Calls of fascism: Legacy outlets were quick to claim that the new party—which does have a history of neo-fascism—is a return to Italy’s fascist roots. In reality, Meloni declared that “fascism is history,” suspended members that praised fascist leaders, and successfully created a conservative party that channeled the county’s pain from economic stagnation and pandemic policies.

Big picture

Globalism, through projects like the creation of the EU in 1993, has aspired to integrate world economies for mutual prosperity and peace. Over three decades after the experiment, it’s now clear that globalism results in individual nations giving away their sovereignty and, in turn, prioritizing the needs of other countries over those of their people.

Italy’s recent turn will be the most significant pushback against globalism since Trump and Brexit. It’ll test whether national populist parties like Meloni’s can function properly and satisfy their citizens.