Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni looks on as she attends a ceremony to mark the 163rd anniversary of the Italian Army, in Rome, Italy, May 3, 2024. (©Reuters/Remo Casilli)
When Giorgia Meloni, Italy's 47-year-old prime minister, assumed office two years ago, many skeptics anticipated her tenure would be short-lived. Meloni's perennial far-right opposition party had clinched victory in the general election on an anti-immigration platform and her future seemed uncertain.
Yet, in 2024 she finds herself at the forefront of immigration policy within the European Union (EU). With determination, she has set illegal immigration as a top priority on the agenda as chair of the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in June.
In June, a coalition of 15 EU countries, led by Denmark, released a joint letter advocating to "build on models like the Italy-Albania Protocol" to stem the influx of irregular migration. The proposed strategy aims to intercept migrant boats crossing the Mediterranean before they reach EU shores. It would then redirect them entirely to "safe third countries."
Redirecting, Not Expelling Migrants
Italy plans to redirect illegal migrants to neighboring Albania, where a reception facility for refugee assessments will be constructed in a port town. Rather than dealing with the challenges of mass deportations, Meloni devised a method to prevent them from entering the country in the first place. An agreement was reached in November 2023, promising support for Albania's EU membership.
The message is "You won't enter the EU even if you make the journey." Its psychological impact has been substantial. Despite the plan still being in preparation, Italy has seen a remarkable 62% decrease in illegal migrant arrivals from January to April 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
Fifteen countries have signed the letter in support of Italy's initiative. They include Finland and the Netherlands, known for their strong human rights records, together with Poland from Eastern Europe. The unity displayed by these countries, particularly in the absence of major players like Germany and France, is quite rare in EU policymaking.
Countries have embraced Meloni's plan as it offers a way to expel illegal immigrants without direct involvement. It resolves the conflict between their sense of responsibility to accept refugees and their desire to deter illegal migration. Above all, it is unprecedented in the EU for a "far-right politician" to set such an example.
Embracing Europe
While far-right anti-immigration parties typically criticize the EU, Giorgia Meloni has taken a different approach. Instead of distancing herself, she has drawn the EU closer and shifted it to the right from within. Her direct condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine has also earned her trust in Northern and Eastern Europe. As a result, she has become a figure with whom Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, believes collaboration is possible.
European media often rush to label anti-immigration forces as "far-right." They equate anti-immigration sentiment with racism. However, the EU now receives over a million refugee applications annually. Countries can no longer ignore the growing concerns of their citizens demanding action.
Who Is Giorgia Meloni?
Giorgia Meloni stands out in European politics, a realm often dominated by highly educated elites. Her educational background peaked at a vocational school, setting her apart from many of her peers. At just 15 years old, she joined a right-wing group associated with the Fascist Party led by dictator Mussolini. That solidified her staunch anti-communist stance.
Meloni managed to support herself by working as a nanny and bartender. Then, at the age of 29, she was elected to Italy's parliament.
When I covered her campaign in 2022, I initially perceived her as merely the face of the far-right's image strategy. With her blonde hair flowing as she ran across the stage, she looked like a pop idol.
However, beneath her feminine appearance lay a powerful voice delivering impassioned declarations. For example, "Europe's decline is due to the left," and "I will defend our homeland." Those words still resonate in my ears, and her piercing gaze remains unchanged from that time.
Europe and Populist Politics
Italy is often referred to as the testing ground for populist politics. In the 1990s, media mogul Silvio Berlusconi emerged as prime minister. He upended the traditional left-right party system and set a precedent for Europe.
More recently, in the 2018 general election, the left-wing Five Star Movement, a novel party that utilizes online voting to shape policies, emerged triumphant. Today, all eyes are on Giorgia Meloni. Her party, once a perennial opposition force, now commands a substantial lead in the polls.
In contrast to countries like Germany, France, and Spain, where center-right parties tend to distance themselves from the far-right, Italy's Meloni may emerge as a unifying figure for the European right, bridging the gap between the far-right and the center.
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(Read the column in Japanese.)
Author: Mina Mitsui
