Weeks before the far-right politician Georgia Meloni elected as prime minister Italythe left sounded the “alarm for Italian democracy” and European Union prepared for the country to join forces with Member States such as Hungary And Polandwhich called into question some of the block’s core values. At the same time, investors were concerned about the turmoil in the markets.

However, after about 100 days in office, Meloni fell short of expectations. He has, of course, shown flashes of nationalist rage, raising fears both inside and outside Italy that he is preparing to turn towards authoritarianism. So far, however, her administration has been far less “bitter” than expected and more ideological and practical.

This unexpected pattern puzzled the European regime as well as its Italian critics, raising uncertainty about whether and to what extent Meloni’s more moderate stance should be taken with skepticism.

While Meloni’s coalition partner Silvio Berlusconi defended Vladimir Putin over the weekend, blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for Russia’s invasion of his country, the popularity of the Italian prime minister has largely minimized the damage from extremist elements in the government.

“Better than expected”

In addition, Meloni turned out “much better than we expected” in the economy, according to center-left leader Enrico Letta, who warned that Meloni was a threat to Italian democracy. According to him, the far-right politician put aside her aggressive rhetoric towards the European Union, deciding to “follow the rules” and avoid “mistakes.”

“The truth is that he is in a strong position,” said Leta, who decided to step down as leader of his party after being defeated by Meloni. “The conditions are absolutely favorable for it, since there is no alternative within the majority, and the opposition is split.”

Since her election in September, Meloni has become the head of Italy’s most far-right government since Mussolini. The “Brothers of Italy” party arose on the “wreckage” of the failed Italian experiment with fascism. As a member of the opposition, he aligned himself with other European far-right leaders such as Hungarian leader Viktor Orban.

Europe in dilemma

But after the election of Meloni, the fears of a “second Orban”, and even the third largest economy in Europe, probably did not come true. What distinguishes Meloni from the Hungarian prime minister, analysts say, is Italy’s deep dependence on Europe for billions of euros in aid funds, as well as its huge debt.

The fact that Meloni appears willing to play by the rules of the EU left the bloc’s leaders in the quandary of having to decide whether they should treat her as an extremist element or as a more or less responsible prime minister who seemed to be during the last few months.

If the EU “accepts” it as a reliable partner, then there is a risk of indirect legitimization of the ultra-right political elements in Europe. But if she refuses, it will be like punishing her for doing what she was asked to do, thereby creating a dangerous obstacle for the leader of the country, large enough to destabilize the entire Union, as well as the world economy.

Macron’s dinner and plans for the future

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron did not invite Meloni to a dinner he hosted in Paris with Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, sending a clear signal that Italy had made a “withdrawal” compared to when he was in Draghi’s rule. . Indeed, according to analysts, Macron also wanted to avoid indirect legitimization of the French extreme right.

Meloni lashed out, saying Italy was looking for nothing more than a comforting “pat on the back,” while talks with the leaders of the Czech Republic and Poland were interpreted by some in Brussels last week as a veiled warning. But on Friday, Ms. Meloni, a wily politician well versed in “victimization” politics, spent considerable time explaining that she didn’t care if she was invited to Mr. Macron’s dinner.

Meloni’s critics such as Enrico Letta say there are still many problematic issues, such as immigration, justice, LGBTI rights and abortion, although he acknowledged that these areas “have not yet seen dramatic development.”

Leta, however, worries about what Meloni is preparing to do at the European level, speaking among other things about the possibility of a more ambitious plan to bring the Old Continent closer to the far right. As he reports, the Italian prime minister has already tried to create new alliances with far-right forces in Europe and become their central force along with Orban before the 2024 European elections.

^{Source: New York Times.}