Hard-right leader set to take power in Italy. Giorgia Meloni is on course to become Italy’s first woman prime minister and its most right-wing leader since World War II following yesterday’s elections. Meloni, whose party originated in the neofascism movement of the postwar era, has criticized the “LGBT lobby” and called for a naval blockade of immigrants. At the same time, she’s moved closer to the center on issues like controlling Italy’s massive debt burden and supporting Ukraine against Russia. One of her biggest political influences? Lord of the Rings. Meloni used to dress up like a hobbit and says she doesn’t consider LOTR fantasy.

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