Italy's far-right Premier Meloni defies fears of harming democracy and clashing with the EU
Associated Press
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FILE - Far-Right party Brothers of Italy's leader Giorgia Meloni shows a placard reading in Italian "Thank you Italy" at her party's electoral headquarters in Rome, early Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. When Giorgia Meloni took office a year ago as the first far-right premier in Italy's post-war history, concern was palpable abroad about the prospect of democratic backsliding and resistance to European Union rules. But since being sworn in as premier on Oct. 22, 2022, Meloni has confounded Western skeptics. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
FILE - From left, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte meet with Tunisian President Kais Saied, right back to the camera, in Tunis, Sunday, June 11, 2023. When Giorgia Meloni took office a year ago as the first far-right premier in Italy's post-war history, concern was palpable abroad about the prospect of democratic backsliding and resistance to European Union rules. But since being sworn in as premier on Oct. 22, 2022, Meloni has confounded Western skeptics. (Italian Premier Office via AP, File)
FILE - France's President Emmanuel Macron, right, arrives with Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni prior to a meeting at Palazzo Chigi government's office in Rome, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. When Giorgia Meloni took office a year ago as the first far-right premier in Italy's post-war history, concern was palpable abroad about the prospect of democratic backsliding and resistance to European Union rules. But since being sworn in as premier on Oct. 22, 2022, Meloni has confounded Western skeptics. (Filippo Monteforte Pool via AP, File)
FILE - Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, center, acknowledges the applause after addressing the lower Chamber ahead of a confidence vote for her cabinet in Rome, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. When Giorgia Meloni took office a year ago as the first far-right premier in Italy's post-war history, concern was palpable abroad about the prospect of democratic backsliding and resistance to European Union rules. But since being sworn in as premier on Oct. 22, 2022, Meloni has confounded Western skeptics. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)
FILE - Newly sworn-in Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, center, and her cabinet pose for a family photo at Quirinale presidential palace in Rome, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. When Giorgia Meloni took office a year ago as the first far-right premier in Italy's post-war history, concern was palpable abroad about the prospect of democratic backsliding and resistance to European Union rules. But since being sworn in as premier on Oct. 22, 2022, Meloni has confounded Western skeptics. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)
FILE - Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, June 29, 2023. When Giorgia Meloni took office a year ago as the first far-right premier in Italy's post-war history, concern was palpable abroad about the prospect of democratic backsliding and resistance to European Union rules. But since being sworn in as premier on Oct. 22, 2022, Meloni has confounded Western skeptics. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)
FILE - Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni listens to reporters' questions on the second day of the Europe Summit in Granada, Spain, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. When Giorgia Meloni took office a year ago as the first far-right premier in Italy's post-war history, concern was palpable abroad about the prospect of democratic backsliding and resistance to European Union rules. But since being sworn in as premier on Oct. 22, 2022, Meloni has confounded Western skeptics. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - From left, The League's Matteo Salvini, Forza Italia's Silvio Berlusconi, Brothers of Italy's Giorgia Meloni, and Noi Con l'Italia's Maurizio Lupi, attend the center-right coalition closing rally in Rome ahead of Italy's general elections, Thursday, Sep. 22, 2022. When Giorgia Meloni took office a year ago as the first far-right premier in Italy's post-war history, concern was palpable abroad about the prospect of democratic backsliding and resistance to European Union rules. But since being sworn in as premier on Oct. 22, 2022, Meloni has confounded Western skeptics. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
FILE - Newly appointed Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, right, flanked by outgoing Premier Mario Draghi, holds the cabinet of minister's bell during the handover ceremony at Chigi Palace premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. When Giorgia Meloni took office a year ago as the first far-right premier in Italy's post-war history, concern was palpable abroad about the prospect of democratic backsliding and resistance to European Union rules. But since being sworn in as premier on Oct. 22, 2022, Meloni has confounded Western skeptics. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)
FILE - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden react at the launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance at the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. When Giorgia Meloni took office a year ago as the first far-right premier in Italy's post-war history, concern was palpable abroad about the prospect of democratic backsliding and resistance to European Union rules. But since being sworn in as premier on Oct. 22, 2022, Meloni has confounded Western skeptics. (AP Photo/Evelyn Hockstein, Pool, File )
FILE - President Joe Biden meets with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, July 27, 2023, in Washington. When Giorgia Meloni took office a year ago as the first far-right premier in Italy's post-war history, concern was palpable abroad about the prospect of democratic backsliding and resistance to European Union rules. But since being sworn in as premier on Oct. 22, 2022, Meloni has confounded Western skeptics. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
FILE - Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, right, meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Chigi Palace government's office in Rome, Saturday, May 13, 2023. When Giorgia Meloni took office a year ago as the first far-right premier in Italy's post-war history, concern was palpable abroad about the prospect of democratic backsliding and resistance to European Union rules. But since being sworn in as premier on Oct. 22, 2022, Meloni has confounded Western skeptics. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File )
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FILE - Far-Right party Brothers of Italy's leader Giorgia Meloni shows a placard reading in Italian "Thank you Italy" at her party's electoral headquarters in Rome, early Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. When Giorgia Meloni took office a year ago as the first far-right premier in Italy's post-war history, concern was palpable abroad about the prospect of democratic backsliding and resistance to European Union rules. But since being sworn in as premier on Oct. 22, 2022, Meloni has confounded Western skeptics. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
