Meloni renounces fascism in opening speech

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned fascism during her opening speech before the Italian parliament. In a 70-minute speech, Meloni, party leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy, a party deeply rooted in fascism, said she had never felt any sympathy for anti-democratic regimes — including fascism.

Meloni added that the racial laws enacted in Italy in 1938 represent an “absolute low in Italian history, and a source of shame that will forever mark the Italian people.” It is the first time that 45-year-old Meloni, who joined the youth wing of the neo-fascist Movimento Sociale Italiano (Italian Social Movement) party as a teenager, has rejected fascism in such clear terms.

Also read the opinion piece: Fascism is never far away

Meloni also emphasized the pro-European nature of the new government. But the European Union should not be a club with countries in higher and lower divisions, Meloni said. She calls for Europe to take a more vigorous approach to common challenges, such as rising energy prices and the supply of raw materials. At last week’s European summit, where a price ceiling for gas was carefully put on the table, a step was taken in the right direction, according to Meloni, but it does not go far enough for her. Meloni also made it crystal clear that she does not want ‘a blind austerity policy’, but wants to fully focus on economic growth. In short, her government will also argue for more flexible European fiscal rules.

‘Hotspots’ in Africa

Migration is also best tackled in a European context, according to the new Italian prime minister. During the election campaign, Meloni was heavily criticized for proposing a naval blockade off the coast of North Africa. On Tuesday, she said she plans to discuss in a European context how to stop migrant boats, in cooperation with North African countries. Meloni is in favor of establishing ‘hotspots’ in Africa, where applicants for asylum would be separated from economic migrants.

With migration, the Italian prime minister touched on a theme on which her radical-right ally-competitor Matteo Salvini (Lega) has been profiling for years. During this government negotiation, Salvini was aiming in vain for the Interior Minister’s post, which would have made him again responsible for Italy’s migration policy, just as in 2018-2019. Instead, Salvini became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure.

Race laws of 1938, Meloni said, were “an absolute low”

But by immediately organizing a meeting with the head of the Italian coastguard as a new minister, Salvini made it clear that he also intends to meddle with migration policy in that new role. Salvini already discussed with the coastguard director which NGO boats with migrants might set course for Italy in the near future.

Also, before Meloni addressed parliament as Prime Minister, Salvini sent out a message that he had convened a meeting on key economic priorities. For example, according to the Italian press, he already took the wind out of Meloni’s sails, effectively acting like the prime minister setting policy priorities.

Real opponents

In February last year, when Mario Draghi’s government was formed, Meloni confided to the new head of government that she chose the opposition, but that he should probably expect his real opponents in his own ranks. The same may now be true for Meloni, who also had to deal with a particularly tough Silvio Berlusconi (Forza Italia), her other important ally in this government, during the government negotiations.

Also read: What will Meloni’s right-wing cabinet look like?

Meloni began her speech to reflect on the historic nature of her appointment as the country’s first woman at the helm. But only six of her ministers are women, out of a total of 24. Even more than that low representation, women’s activists are concerned about Meloni’s views on women’s rights, and in particular on access to abortion. Meloni’s party is ‘pro life’ and wants to boost Italy’s low birth rate. Women activists are concerned that Meloni has appointed conservative Catholic Eugenia Maria Roccella as Minister of Family. In her speech, Meloni said her government would never interfere with existing civil liberties.

The speech was followed by a parliamentary debate and a vote of confidence. The Meloni government gained the confidence of the Italian House of Representatives, with 235 votes yes, 154 votes no and 5 abstentions. A second confidence vote in the Italian Senate will take place this Wednesday.