In Italy, the government of Giorgia Meloni intended to reassure Europeans

Giorgia Meloni, leader of the post-fascist party Fratelli d’Italia, winner of the legislative elections, was sworn in on Saturday, October 22, at the presidential palace of the Quirinal in Rome as president of the Italian Council, following her official appointment the day before by President Sergio Mattarella. At 45, she thus became the first woman called to this function in the history of the country, at the head of the most right-wing government in Italy since 1946.

Antonio Tajani in European Affairs

Giorgia Meloni applied herself to sending reassuring signals in the direction of Brussels, which for its part, which said it was ready to « cooperate » with the new government. Herself a Eurosceptic, Giorgia Meloni has thus chosen to lead Italian diplomacy a convinced European, the former President of the Strasbourg Parliament Antonio Tajani, who will be flanked in European affairs by a faithful of the Prime Minister, MEP Raffaele Fitto.

Antonio Tajani shares the vice-presidency alongside Matteo Salvini, who is also appointed to infrastructure and transport. Antonio Tajani ticks all the boxes to reassure Brussels as well as the European capitals: former European commissioner and current vice-president of the European People’s Party (EPP, right), this 69-year-old Roman has a solid network which will prove very useful for Giorgia Meloni. He knows everyone in the European Parliament, but also in the European Commission, of which he was a member twice from 2008 to 2014, and in the Council of Heads of State and Government.

To the economy, a faithful Mario Draghi

In the economy, the President of the Council has appointed Giancarlo Giorgetti, 55 years old. The latter passes for a powerful, but discreet figure in the League (extreme right) of Matteo Salvini, of which he is considered one of the most moderate and pro-European representatives. As Minister of Economic Development appreciated by industrialists, he was a loyal supporter of former Prime Minister Mario Draghi until the end, pushed out by three parties in his coalition, including the League.

Although he spent most of his political career in the League, this man of conviction did not hesitate to take the opposite view of the sovereignist Salvini and to mute the euroscepticism of this populist party to join Mario Draghi’s government of national unity. He too should reassure European capitals like Brussels.

A technocrat inside

Inside, the ministry coveted by Matteo Salvini, but which Giorgia Meloni did not want, finally appointed the technocrat Matteo Piantedosi, 59, who has spent his entire career in the prefectural and senior civil service. It is an exposed position as security and immigration issues have become strategic for Italy, a country on the front line for the reception of migrants.

Finally, MP Carlo Nordio was appointed justice minister, while Guido Crosetto, very close to Giorgia Meloni, was appointed defense minister. In addition, the head of government has only appointed six women to her team, to « secondary » positions: at work, at university and research, the disabled, birth rate, equal opportunities and to tourism.