One of Europe’s most prominent political figures in recent years, Georgia Melloni has broken the monopoly of men as prime ministers, becoming in October 2022 the first woman prime minister in the history of the Italian Republic. Born in Rome on January 15, 1977, Meloni began her political activism at an early age, before gradually making her way into Italian politics to become one of the most influential figures on the European scene.
She entered the Italian parliament in 2006, then took over the youth portfolio between 2008 and 2011, becoming the youngest minister in the history of the Italian Republic at the time. In 2012, she co-founded the Brothers of Italy party, before taking over its leadership in 2014, and succeeded in transforming it from a party with limited influence to the country’s first political force, which paved the way for her arrival as prime minister following the 2022 general elections.
Meloni is a conservative nationalist who espouses a discourse based on national identity and traditional family values, while calling for tighter controls on irregular migration, enhanced security and protection of Italian interests. At the same time, it maintains a position in support of Italy’s membership in the European Union and NATO, while stressing the need to prioritize national interests in economic and foreign policies.
Despite controversy surrounding some of its political positions, Georgia Melloni has established itself as one of the continent’s most prominent conservative leaders, and has become an influential player in migration, energy, European security, and international relations, as well as its growing role within the G7 and the EU.
Known for her direct rhetorical style and assertive personality, Meloni has one daughter and enjoys a wide public and media presence inside and outside Italy. More than three years after coming to power, she has succeeded in maintaining a measure of political stability in a country historically known for fluctuating governments and multiple alliances, making her one of the most visible and influential political figures in contemporary Europe.