Meloni's Mars

Written on September 26, 2022.

Populism in the West is often portrayed as a storm that rises and then recedes. But perhaps it's not a storm, but a slow, steady shift—a political and cultural tectonic. The rise of Giorgia Meloni as a political heavyweight in Italy fits perfectly into this pattern. Not a new Mussolini, but an ideological reconfiguration. Today, the Italian boot is kicking the West, once again—but this time more effectively.

A country that votes in crisis mode

Italy is in a deep institutional and social crisis:

• Problems in reception centers,

• Exploding distrust in politics,

• A fragmented party system,

• Exploding energy prices and

• An ageing, disillusioned population.

The elections are thus more than just a democratic ritual – they are a popular outburst. For the first time since 2008, Italy was able to elect a prime minister. The flamboyant Silvio Berlusconi is back, though his role is now a supporting one. The starring role? That goes to 45-year-old Giorgia Meloni , leader of Fratelli d'Italia .

Meloni: not a caricature, but a tipping point

Meloni isn't a traditional Italian politician. As a woman, outspoken, charismatic, and adept on social media, she contrasts sharply with the drab men in suits around her. Where colleagues like Salvini stumble over rhetorical blunders and Berlusconi comes across as a caricatural, outdated image, Meloni uses her rhetorical talent and image to her advantage.

With her " Italy First " national tone, she's winning ground among voters who feel betrayed by globalization, European interference, and economic precarity. And her advantage: her party wasn't part of the fallen Draghi government – something that feels refreshing to many Italians.

Crisis and choices: energy, government debt and Russia

Italy's energy dependence on Russia (40%) has led to 9% inflation, and 12 million Italians are at risk of having to choose between heat and food. Salvini wants massive government subsidies, but Italy's soaring national debt (2.7 trillion euros) makes this dangerous.

Meloni is taking a more cautious approach here. She doesn't want to increase the debt, but she does want price ceilings. Moreover, she doesn't underestimate the importance of European recovery funds – €200 billion in promised support, conditional on reforms.

Russia and NATO: between pragmatics and populism

Although Meloni's party voted against EU sanctions against Russia, she herself is more cautious. She promises to follow the NATO line and, unlike Salvini, does not publicly glorify Putin. She also tones down extremist voices regarding LGBTQ rights and European cooperation.

This strategy— radical rhetoric, moderate practice —explains why Fratelli d'Italia has risen from 4% to 25% in the polls. She is not seen as an extremist, but as an "angry mother" who wants to put the house in order.

Left fragmented, right united

Meloni's success is also due to the divisions on the left:

• The Democratic Party ,

• Italia Viva by ex-Prime Minister Renzi,

• And Conte's Five Star Movement is fighting among itself.

The Five Star Movement is rising slightly again, because it clings to the "citizen income"—a social safety net that southern Italians in particular rely on. However, the fragmented left and the right's pre-established coalition agreements give Meloni's bloc a strategic advantage.

Europe's transformation: nationalism as the new unity?

Meloni is not a fascist , not a breaker of Europe , and not an anti-democratic revolutionary . Her political project is more subtle: to normalize a nationalist ideology that becomes pan-European .

On Spanish soil, she spoke fluently about her support for Vox , the Spanish right-wing populists. She is building a network of related movements that defend national traditions but collaborate across borders. A paradox: her nationalism unites precisely because it is anti-globalist.

A kick, not a knockout

Italy's kick against Europe is palpable, but not a knockout punch. Meloni will have to navigate between Brussels demands and domestic expectations. Internal conflicts within her coalition are already looming. But her delivering this kick does indeed herald a shift in the European zeitgeist .

The populist protest voice seems to be slowly forming into a dominant ideology – nationalist, culturally conservative and skeptical of supranational structures.

Meloni's election victory is not the end of something old, but perhaps the beginning of a new European episode .