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Meloni becomes Italy's first far-right prime minister since defeat of fascism
New Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni arrives for the handover ceremony at Chigi Palace Premier's office, in Rome, Sunday, October 23, 2022

FAR-RIGHT leader Giorgia Meloni was sworn in as Italy’s first female prime minister on Saturday.

Ms Meloni’s Brothers of Italy, a neofascist organisation which traces its origins back to fascist dictator Benito Mussolini’s original National Fascist Party via a succession of organisations, emerged as the largest party in last month’s election and heads a coalition with the Lega of Matteo Salvini and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia.

Her party benefited from refusal to participate in outgoing PM Mario Draghi’s technocratic government. The former European Central Bank chief was the latest in a series of unelected figures appointed to oversee marketising policies unsupported by Italians at elections.

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