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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I heard people say today that she is a "self-avowed fascist". Obviously, I think she is one, but I am wondering if she has literally said while on the record "I am a fascist"? or something concrete we can point to that will actually make apolitical people go "oh damn dude actually that is bad"
I can't find any quotes from her directly stating "I am a fascist" but she has a few choice quotes about Mussolini being a good guy (this was said in 1992, so not exactly a new belief of hers). She also used to be a member of the youth group that descended from some neo-fascist political party, but I can't find any references to what this fascist party is supposed to have been, though I don't doubt that its probably true.