Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Giorgia Meloni

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

Giorgia Meloni is the current Prime Minister of Italy, the first woman to hold the position. She assumed office in October 2022 and leads the third-longest government in the history of the Italian Republic. Meloni has been a member of the Chamber of Deputies since 2006. She has also been the president of the right-wing to far-right party Brothers of Italy (FdI) since 2014 and served as president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party from 2020 to 2025.

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

1938: Publication of the "Manifesto of Race"

In 1938, the antisemitic and racist magazine La Difesa della Razza, where Giorgio Almirante was editor-in-chief, published the "Manifesto of Race".

1938: Racial Laws in Italy

In October 2022, Giorgia Meloni referred to the racial laws of 1938 as the lowest point in Italian history, a shame that will mark the people forever.

2006: Controversy about diploma

After her election to the Italian Parliament in 2006, Giorgia Meloni declared in her curriculum vitae that she obtained a high school diploma in languages, which caused some controversy due to the type of institution she attended.

2006: Defended Berlusconi's laws

In 2006, Meloni defended the laws passed by the third Berlusconi government that benefited companies of Silvio Berlusconi and delayed trials involving him, arguing that they were perfectly fair laws.

August 2008: Called for boycott of Beijing Olympics opening ceremony

In August 2008, Meloni invited Italian athletes to boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games due to disagreement with Chinese policies toward Tibet, a statement that was criticized by Berlusconi and Franco Frattini.

2008: Ilaria Salis accused of illegal occupation

In 2008, Ilaria Salis was accused of illegal occupation in a plant.

2012: Meloni Adds Tricolour Flame to Party Flag

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

January 2016: Participated in Family Day

On 30 January 2016, Meloni participated in the Family Day, an anti-LGBT rights demonstration, declaring herself against LGBT adoption and announcing her pregnancy.

February 2016: Expressed preference against having a gay child

During a February 2016 interview with the Italian television show Le Iene, Meloni stated that she would "rather not have a gay child".

May 2016: promised to name a street after Giorgio Almirante

In May 2016, during her mayoral campaign, Meloni promised to name a street after Giorgio Almirante if elected, causing controversy.

January 2017: Called immigration to Italy "ethnic substitution"

In January 2017, Meloni referred to immigration to Italy as "ethnic substitution".

March 2018: Criticized Disney for representing a gay couple in Frozen II

In March 2018, Meloni criticised The Walt Disney Company on Facebook for including a gay couple in the musical fantasy film Frozen II, writing "Enough! We are sick of it! Take your hands off the children."

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November 2018: Meloni calls for substitution of Liberation Day and Festa della Repubblica

In November 2018, Giorgia Meloni declared that the celebration of Liberation Day on April 25 and Festa della Repubblica on June 2 should be substituted with the National Unity and Armed Forces Day on November 4.

October 2019: Meloni's speech at the Italian Pride rally in Rome

In October 2019, Giorgia Meloni participated in the Italian Pride rally in Rome, where she criticized proposals to change wording on children's identity cards. Her speech, concluding with "I am Giorgia...", became a viral remix, increasing her popularity.

October 2019: Spoke against same-sex parenting

In October 2019, at a rally at the Piazza del Popolo, Meloni spoke against same-sex parenting, and her speech went viral on Italian social media platforms.

2019: FdI Distances 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-authored book on the Nigerian mafia

In 2019, Meloni co-authored a book on the Nigerian mafia with Alessandro Meluzzi, promoting controversial views on ethnicity and immigration.

January 2020: Controversy over street naming after Giorgio Almirante

In January 2020, controversy arose after Giorgia Meloni and the comune of Verona supported naming a street after Giorgio Almirante. They also supported giving Liliana Segre, a Holocaust survivor, honorary citizenship. Segre opposed the decision due to Almirante's past.

May 2020: Meloni Praises Giorgio Almirante

In May 2020, Giorgia Meloni praised Giorgio Almirante, co-founder of the Italian Social Movement (MSI), as a "great politician" and "patriot", despite his controversial past.

2020: Declared there is no homophobia in Italy

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

February 2021: Meloni joins the Aspen Institute and faces insults

In February 2021, Giorgia Meloni joined the Aspen Institute. Also in February 2021, she was verbally insulted by a university professor on the radio, leading to condemnation and the professor's suspension.

October 2021: Meloni signs the Madrid Charter

In October 2021, Giorgia Meloni signed the Madrid Charter, a document from the Vox party describing left-wing groups as enemies. She also participated in Vox's party congress.

October 2021: Cortese posts a photo of Meloni with Mussolini

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

December 2021: MSI Members Do Roman Salute

In December 2021, Alfredo Catapano and Luigi Rispoli, former MSI members, performed a Roman salute, which was condemned by the ANPI.

2021: Wrote that Russia defends European values

In 2021, Meloni wrote that Russia under Putin defends European values and Christian identity.

August 2022: Reposted controversial video of alleged rape by asylum seeker

In August 2022, amid the Russo-Ukrainian War, Meloni reposted a pixelated video on Twitter showing a woman allegedly being raped by an asylum seeker, which sparked backlash and accusations of not condemning the rape itself.

2022: Segre Calls for Removal of Tricolour Flame

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

2022: Party Pledged to Review COVID-19 Policies

In 2022, after Giorgia Meloni's party won the Italian general election, they pledged to review the Italian government's COVID-19 pandemic positions and end the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers.

2022: Meloni Sacks Member Praising Hitler

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

February 2023: Migrant boat sinks off the coast of Calabria

In February 2023, a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Steccato di Cutro, near Crotone, Calabria, resulting in at least 86 deaths. Giorgia Meloni expressed sorrow and condemned human traffickers.

March 2023: Calls for resignation after migrant boat sinking

In March 2023, following the migrant boat sinking, Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party, along with other parties, called for the resignation of interior minister Matteo Piantedosi.

November 2023: Council of Ministers approved the "Safety Package"

On 16 November 2023, the Council of Ministers approved the "safety package", later known as the "Safety Bill", which included subjects such as terrorism, scams, cannabis, and illegal occupation of property.

January 2024: Approval of the bill about "differentiated autonomy" in the Senate

In January 2024, the bill about "differentiated autonomy" was approved in the Senate, it was then approved by the Chamber on 19 June. The law was criticised by the opposition.

July 2024: Meloni Awarded Damages in Defamation Lawsuit

In July 2024, Giorgia Meloni was awarded damages in a defamation lawsuit against journalist Giulia Cortese, who had altered a photo of Meloni to include Mussolini and then body shamed her. Cortese criticized the judgment, citing issues with freedom of expression.

August 2024: Meloni comments on court case over Italian government's social policy

On 12 August 2024, Meloni characterised as "surrealist" the court case initiated by the European Commission over the Italian government's social policy that favoured Italians over recent non-citizen immigrants.

September 2024: Chamber of Deputies approved the "Safety Bill"

On 18 September 2024, the Chamber of Deputies approved the "Safety Bill", which covered subjects such as terrorism, scams, cannabis, and illegal occupation of property.

October 2024: Senate extends ban on surrogacy

On 16 October 2024, The Senate voted 84-58 in favor of extending a ban on surrogacy to couples who go abroad to avail of the procedure.

January 2025: Libyan General Almasri Arrested and Released

On January 19, 2025, Libyan general Osama Elmasry Njeem (Almasri) was arrested near Juventus Stadium in Turin. He was later released on January 21 due to the irregularity of the arrest. After his release, the Libyan military officer was expelled and repatriated to Libya aboard a Falcon 900 aircraft of the Italian intelligence services.

April 2025: Government approves a decree-law based on the previous security bill

On 4 April 2025, the government approved a decree-law that almost entirely follows the previous security bill, which had been sent back to the Chamber due to the lack of financial coverage and doubts raised by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, in order to speed up the approval process.

September 2025: Meloni Faces Strikes for Gaza Policies

In September 2025, Giorgia Meloni faced large general strikes for her policies towards the Gaza war and in response to Israeli military attacks on the Global Sumud Flotilla. Meloni condemned the violence between demonstrators and police forces, referring to the protesters as hooligans.

February 2026: Meloni Condemns Missile Strike on School in Minab, Iran

On February 28, 2026, Giorgia Meloni condemned the missile strike on a school in Minab, Iran, describing the incident as a 'massacre'. She called for accountability for the tragedy, which occurred during U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran.