Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Giorgia Meloni

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Giorgia Meloni.

Giorgia Meloni is an Italian politician and the current Prime Minister of Italy, the first woman to hold the position. She has been a member of the Chamber of Deputies since 2006. Meloni has led the Brothers of Italy (FdI), a right-wing to far-right party, since 2014. She also served as the president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party from 2020 to 2025. Her political career is marked by her leadership within the Italian right-wing political landscape.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1938: Publication of the "Manifesto of Race"

Giorgio Almirante, later praised by Meloni, was editor-in-chief of the antisemitic and racist magazine La Difesa della Razza, which published the "Manifesto of Race" in 1938.

1938: Condemned racial laws

On October 25, 2022, Giorgia Meloni said in her speech before the Parliament that she has never had sympathy for undemocratic regimes, including fascism, and considered the racial laws of 1938 the lowest point in Italian history.

1993: Opposition to the Mancino law

Giorgia Meloni has opposed the 1993 Mancino law, a hate speech law.

2006: Elected to Italian Parliament

Following her election to the Italian Parliament in 2006, Giorgia Meloni declared details of her high school diploma, which led to some controversy.

August 2008: Called for Boycott of Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony

In August 2008, Giorgia Meloni invited Italian athletes to boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games in disagreement with the Chinese policy implemented towards Tibet.

2012: Added tricolour flame to party flag

In 2012, after the formation of FdI, Giorgia Meloni decided to add the tricolour flame to the party flag, a neo-fascist symbol associated with the MSI.

2015: Blaming neo-colonialism for Africa's underdevelopment and migrant crisis

Giorgia Meloni has blamed neo-colonialism for Africa's underdevelopment and the 2015 European migrant crisis.

January 2016: Participated in Family Day and Announced Pregnancy

On 30 January 2016, Giorgia Meloni participated in the Family Day, an anti-LGBT rights demonstration, and announced that she was pregnant.

February 2016: Comment about not wanting a gay child

During a February 2016 interview to Le Iene, an Italian television show, Giorgia Meloni said that she would "rather not have a gay child".

May 2016: Promised to Name a Street After Giorgio Almirante

In May 2016, during the Rome municipal election campaign, Giorgia Meloni promised to name a street after Giorgio Almirante if elected, causing controversy.

January 2017: Calling immigration to Italy 'ethnic substitution'

In January 2017, Giorgia Meloni called immigration to Italy "ethnic substitution".

March 2018: Criticism of Disney's representation of a gay couple

In March 2018, Giorgia Meloni criticized The Walt Disney Company for representing a gay couple in the musical fantasy film Frozen II, stating, "Enough! We are sick of it! Take your hands off the children."

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August 2018: Description of Meloni's political positions as far-right

In August 2018, Friedel Taube wrote in Deutsche Welle that "Giorgia Meloni has a long history in far-right politics".

November 2018: Proposed replacing Liberation Day and Festa della Repubblica

In November 2018, Giorgia Meloni declared that the celebration of Liberation Day and Festa della Repubblica should be substituted with National Unity and Armed Forces Day.

2018: Welcoming Venezuelans due to Christian faith and Italian origins

In 2018, Giorgia Meloni said she would welcome Venezuelans, because they are Christians and often of Italian origins.

October 2019: Speech against same-sex parenting

At a rally at the Piazza del Popolo in October 2019, Giorgia Meloni spoke against same-sex parenting; her speech became viral on Italian social media platforms.

October 2019: Participation in Italian Pride rally and "I am Giorgia" slogan

In October 2019, Giorgia Meloni participated in the Italian Pride rally in Rome and criticized proposals to change the wording on minors' ID cards. Her speech included the slogan "I am Giorgia. I'm a woman, I'm a mother, I'm Italian, I'm Christian", which went viral and increased her popularity.

2019: FdI distanced itself from Ascoli Piceno party section

In 2019, FdI distanced itself from the Ascoli Piceno party section after it celebrated the anniversary of the March on Rome.

2019: Co-authoring book on the Nigerian mafia

In her 2019 book on the Nigerian mafia, co-written with Alessandro Meluzzi, Giorgia Meloni argued that a project is underway to "change the European ethnicity and create Eurafrica", and included other controversial stereotypes.

January 2020: Supported naming a street after Giorgio Almirante

In January 2020, Giorgia Meloni supported naming a street after Giorgio Almirante, leading to controversy due to his past associations with fascism.

May 2020: Praised Giorgio Almirante as a "great politician"

In May 2020, Giorgia Meloni praised Giorgio Almirante as a "great politician" and "a patriot", despite his controversial past.

2020: Declaration that 'there is no homophobia' in Italy

In 2020, Giorgia Meloni declared that "there is no homophobia" in Italy, opposing the DDL Zan, an anti-homophobia law.

February 2021: Joined Aspen Institute and was insulted on the radio

In February 2021, Giorgia Meloni joined the Aspen Institute. Also in February 2021, a university professor, Giovanni Gozzini, insulted her on the radio, leading to condemnation from President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and the professor's suspension.

October 2021: Signed the Madrid Charter

In October 2021, Giorgia Meloni signed the Madrid Charter, a document that describes left-wing groups as enemies of Ibero-America.

October 2021: Giulia Cortese posted photo of Meloni altered to show her with Mussolini

In October 2021, journalist Giulia Cortese posted a photo of Giorgia Meloni on Twitter, now X, which was altered to show with Mussolini in the background.

December 2021: MSI members did a Roman salute

In December 2021, FdI's Alfredo Catapano and Luigi Rispoli were among former MSI members who did a Roman salute, which was condemned by the ANPI.

2021: Denounced Turkey's direction but pursued closer ties; advocated for expulsion of Indian Ambassador

In 2021, Giorgia Meloni denounced the authoritarian, Islamist direction of Turkey and advocated for the expulsion of the Indian Ambassador to Italy, as well as urging Alessandro Del Piero to refuse to play in the Indian Super League. She also criticized the "silence of the West" following the Asia Bibi blasphemy case.

July 2022: Meloni rejects far-right label

In a July 2022 interview with Nicholas Farrell of The Spectator, Giorgia Meloni rejected descriptions of her politics as far right, calling it a smear campaign by her opponents.

August 2022: Repost of pixelated rape video

Amidst the 2022 escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, in August 2022, Giorgia Meloni reposted a pixelated video on Twitter showing a woman being raped by an asylum seeker, drawing criticism and accusations of not condemning the rape itself.

2022: Pledged to review COVID-19 policies

After her party won the 2022 Italian general election, Giorgia Meloni and her party pledged to review the positions taken by the Italian government during the COVID-19 pandemic and end the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers.

2022: Ignored request to remove tricolour flame

Heading into the 2022 general election, Giorgia Meloni ignored a request to remove the tricolour flame from the party's logo.

2022: Sacked a member that praised Adolf Hitler

Shortly before the 2022 general election, Giorgia Meloni sacked a member that openly praised Adolf Hitler.

March 2023: Calls for resignation of interior minister Matteo Piantedosi

In March 2023, following the migrant boat disaster, Elly Schlein, along with other political figures, requested the resignation of interior minister Matteo Piantedosi.

September 2023: Migration crisis on Lampedusa

In September 2023, more than 120 boats carrying around 7,000 migrants from Africa arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa within 24 hours. Giorgia Meloni requested the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to visit Lampedusa and accelerate the agreement with Tunisia.

October 2023: Announced split with Andrea Giambruno

On October 20, 2023, Giorgia Meloni announced her split with Andrea Giambruno following his controversial off-air statements, which included propositioning a female colleague for a threesome.

October 2024: Condemnation of Israeli attacks on UNIFIL bases

In October 2024, Giorgia Meloni condemned Israeli attacks on UNIFIL bases in Lebanon.

December 2024: Arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Tehran

In December 2024, Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was arrested in Tehran and put in solitary confinement in Evin Prison; news of her arrest became public on December 27th. On December 30th, Iran's Ministry of Culture confirmed her arrest for "violating the laws of the Islamic Republic".

January 2025: Arrest and release of Libyan general Osama Elmasry Njeem

In January 2025, Libyan general Osama Elmasry Njeem was arrested near Juventus Stadium in Turin and subsequently released on January 21st due to procedural irregularities. Following his release, he was repatriated to Libya on an Italian intelligence Falcon 900 aircraft. On January 27th, the Tribunal of Ministers became involved to assess potential investigations into Prime Minister Meloni and other ministers related to the matter.