Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni was to be named Italy’s prime minister on Friday following her party’s historic election victory, becoming the first woman to head a government in Italy.
Her post-fascist Brothers of Italy party – Eurosceptic and anti-immigrant – won general elections on September 25 but needs outside support to form a government.
After two days of bipartisan talks, the 45-year-old woman from Rome is now all but certain that she will be asked to form a government and become the country’s first woman prime minister.
“We are ready to give Italy a government that is aware and competent to face the emergencies and challenges of our time,” Meloni tweeted late Thursday.
Her Brothers of Italy party won 26 percent of the vote last month, compared with 8 and 9 percent respectively for its allies Forza Italia and the far-right League.
Her appointment would be a historic change for the eurozone’s third-biggest economy and for the Brethren of Italy, who have never been in government.
Tradition dictates that President Sergio Mattarella will only name them after he has held formal talks with all parties in Parliament.
On Friday, Meloni joined representatives of her coalition to meet Mattarella, with speculation she could be asked to form a government as early as this afternoon.
If she confirms she can govern with her allies, she could be sworn in with her ministers over the weekend, with a confidence vote in Parliament next week.
– Concerns about the unit –
Deliberations on forming a government have been marred by disagreements over Meloni’s fervent support for Ukraine since the Russian invasion with her two potential coalition partners, both of whom are close to Moscow.
A recording has been leaked of Italy’s former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi – who runs Forza Italia – speaking about his cordial relations with Moscow and seemingly blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the war in Ukraine.
Her other coalition partner, Lega party leader Matteo Salvini, is a longtime supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has criticized Western sanctions against Russia.
Despite her Eurosceptic stance, Meloni has firmly reiterated her support for Ukraine, in line with the rest of the European Union and the United States.
“I intend to lead a government with a clear and unequivocal foreign policy line,” she said. “Italy is fully and head held high part of Europe and the Atlantic Alliance.”
“Anyone who disagrees with this cornerstone will not be able to be part of government, even at the cost of not forming a government,” Meloni warned.
Berlusconi, 86, said his personal and political position “does not differ from that of the Italian government (and) the European Union” on Ukraine.
But the tensions heighten concerns that Meloni’s coalition, held together by the need for a parliamentary majority, will struggle to maintain unity.
Berlusconi’s allies insist his comments in the recording were taken out of context from a meeting with lawmakers earlier this week.
The billionaire media mogul described a rekindling of ties with longtime friend Putin, who sent him 20 bottles of vodka and a “very sweet letter” for his birthday.
Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party said the anecdote was old, although in the same note he also raised concerns about Italy arming Ukraine.