Italy already has its new prime minister. Giorgia Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy, a party born from the ashes of the post-fascist Italian Social Movement (MSI), was sworn in this morning at the Quirinal Palace as president of the Council of Ministers, promising to be "faithful to the Republic, loyally comply with the Constitution and the laws” and exercise its mandate “in the exclusive interest of the nation.” She has also had her 24 ministers, a team designed to strike a balance between Brothers of Italy, La Liga and Forza Italia, the three big parties that support the majority. There are hardly any women: only 6 of the 24 ministers are women.
Thus ends, with the ritual of the oath, the political storm that began in July with the precipitous fall of Mario Draghi's government. The only steps left for Meloni to be completely in charge are the portfolio transfer ceremony and the first Council of Ministers, which will take place this Sunday. This week he will give his investiture speech before the Chambers, where he will explain to the world what will be the lines that the most right-wing executive in Italy since World War II will follow.
Before the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, Meloni has solemnly signed the oath, in an austere ritual that has not deviated from the usual protocols. The next to swear in were its two vice presidents: Matteo Salvini, leader of the League, who will also be Minister of Infrastructure – and will be able to control the ports and the coast guard to continue with his anti-migratory propaganda – and Antonio Tajani, number two of Forza Italy, which is also the new foreign minister.
The average age of the new Italian Executive is 60 years, and there are no figures of great political weight among those elected. One of the most prominent ministries, that of Economy, has gone to the leaguer Giancarlo Giorgetti, a profile considered moderate, who was one of the main supporters of Mario Draghi. He was not the favorite for the position, since Meloni preferred Fabio Panetta, with a prominent position in the European Central Bank. For Justice, he has opted for a technician, the former magistrate close to Brothers of Italy Carlo Nordio. It was a portfolio desired by Forza Italia – due to the pending processes of Silvio Berlusconi – but in the end Meloni imposed his authority and has chosen a judge with an important career with major investigations such as the Tangentopoli corruption process or against the Red Brigades.
The oath has had some colorful moments, starting with the steps of little Ginevra, six years old, Meloni's daughter who did not want to miss this important moment for her mother. Salvini has hesitated to take off and put on his glasses to sign. Giorgetti has been the only league minister to wear a green tie, the color of the party, while Meloni has opted for a sober black suit.
The first messages of congratulations from the European authorities have quickly arrived. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has remarked that she is the first woman to obtain the position and she has said she is prepared to "work with the new government in a constructive way". The conservative Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, has recalled the enormous challenges facing a Europe "that needs Italy". “Together we will overcome all difficulties”, she stressed. Nor have Meloni's old friends failed, starting with the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, who has celebrated that today is "a great day for the European right".
