Right-wing renaissance?

The victory of a nationalist coalition headed by Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s first female Prime Minister, chimes with concerns also visible elsewhere in Europe, such as Hungary, Poland and Sweden.

The global crisis, the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, increased energy prices and migrations arouse anxieties that the right seem better able to interpret.

Meloni’s coalition opposed previous governments so she could present herself as a critical and alternative voice during the recent campaign. But now, despite being legitimised by the popular vote, she has had to embark on the complex and difficult process of government. Will her coalition be able to execute a programme that goes beyond mere rhetoric?