The Daily Italy’s Giorgia Meloni Charts a Path for the Far Right
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Jul 31, 2023 
Jason Horowitz, the Rome bureau chief for The New York Times, delves into Giorgia Meloni's surprising rise as Italy's first female prime minister and her impact on Europe's far-right politics. He explores her pragmatic approach, linking her to historical fascism while reshaping contemporary national identity. The conversation also touches on her political strategies, migration management, and unexpected ties with the chocolate trade, revealing the complexities of her governance in a rapidly changing political landscape.
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Meloni's Upbringing and Early Activism
- Giorgia Meloni, from a working-class background, was raised by a single mother who wrote romance novels.
- As a teenager, she became a youth activist for a post-fascist party.
Understanding Post-Fascism
- Post-fascism in Italy traces its roots to Mussolini, embracing nationalism, traditional family values, and the Church.
- However, the extent to which these parties still hold fascist beliefs remains a question.
Lord of the Rings and the Far-Right
- Young post-fascists in Italy adopted Lord of the Rings as a symbolic text, seeing themselves as defenders of tradition.
- They used character names as code names and even dressed up as hobbits, embodying a sense of being in constant battle.
