Giorgia Meloni

Giorgia Meloni is an Italian politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Italy since October 2022, the first woman to hold the office. She is the president of the Brothers of Italy, a right-wing national-conservative political party which she co-founded in 2012. Meloni previously served as Minister of Youth in the fourth government of Silvio Berlusconi from 2008 to 2011.

Early life and education

Giorgia Meloni was born on 15 January 1977 in the Garbatella district of Rome. Her father, Francesco, was a Sicilian tax advisor, and her mother, Anna, was a native of Sardinia who worked as a homemaker. Meloni was largely raised by her mother after her father left the family when she was a child, moving to the Canary Islands. She attended the Istituto Amerigo Vespucci high school and later studied French language at the American University of Rome, though she did not complete her degree. From a young age, she was involved in political activism, joining the youth wing of the Italian Social Movement at age 15.

Political career

Meloni's political career began in earnest with her election as president of the student organization Azione Studentesca in 1996. She was subsequently elected to the Province of Rome council in 1998. In 2006, she was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for the Lazio region as a member of National Alliance. Her national profile rose significantly when she was appointed Minister of Youth in the Berlusconi IV Cabinet in 2008, becoming the youngest minister in Republican history at that time. Following the dissolution of The People of Freedom party, she co-founded the Brothers of Italy in 2012, becoming its first president in 2014. She led the party from marginal status to become Italy's largest party in the 2022 Italian general election, leading the centre-right coalition to victory and being appointed Prime Minister of Italy by President Sergio Mattarella.

Political positions and ideology

Meloni leads a party described as national-conservative and right-wing populist, with historical roots in the post-fascist tradition. Her platform emphasizes national identity, sovereignty, Christian values, and Eurosceptic sentiments, though she has moderated her stance on the European Union since becoming prime minister, expressing strong support for NATO and Ukraine following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Key domestic policies include opposition to mass immigration, advocacy for traditional family structures, and the promotion of natalist policies to counter Italy's demographic decline. Her government has also pursued constitutional reform, including the direct election of the President of Italy.

Personal life

Meloni has one daughter, Ginevra, born in 2006, with her former partner, television journalist Andrea Giambruno; the couple married in a private ceremony in 2022. She is a practicing Roman Catholic and resides in Rome. Meloni has authored several books, including *Io sono Giorgia* (I am Giorgia), which outlines her political philosophy. She is known for her direct, often impassioned, rhetorical style in public speeches.

Electoral history

Meloni was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in the 2006 Italian general election from Lazio. She was re-elected in the 2008, 2013, 2018, and 2022 elections. In the 2022 election, her Brothers of Italy party won the largest share of the vote at approximately 26%, leading the centre-right coalition to a majority in both the Chamber and the Senate. This victory directly led to her appointment as Prime Minister of Italy.

Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Prime Ministers of Italy Category:Brothers of Italy politicians