Giorgia Meloni completes turbulent first year as Italy PM

Meloni's coalition, the first led by a woman in Italy's history, was sworn in a year ago after a sweeping election victory. The country got its most right-wing government since wartime dictator Benito Mussolini, as Meloni's Brothers of Italy party traces its roots to the post-fascist Italian Social Movement (MSI). (NYT News Service photo)

After being elected she pleased her rightist grassroots through various measures. However, an economic rebound from the pandemic has ground to a halt, with gross domestic product contracting by 0.4% in the second quarter. This makes it harder for Meloni to keep her tax-cutting promises and makes Italy's debt. (Twitter/@GiorgiaMeloni)

This month Italian government approved a 2024 budget with around 24 billion euros of tax cuts and increased spending, despite public debts. This budget doesn't impress investors and is exacerbated. The gap between yields on Italian 10-year bonds and the German equivalent is hovering around 2 percentage points, far higher than for any other eurozone country.

(Twitter/@GiorgiaMeloni)

​On the international front, as well as her backing for Ukraine Meloni has largely avoided confrontation with Brussels despite her eurosceptic past. ​Arrivals on Italy's coasts have surged to more than 140,000 so far in 2023, nearly double the same period last year. (Twitter/@GiorgiaMeloni)

​Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after her first year in power, an anniversary marked by an abrupt announcement she was leaving her long-time partner, Andrea Giambruno, who has drawn criticism in recent weeks for sexist comments made on and off air. (AP Photo)

Taking to her X account, the Italian PM said, "My relationship with Andrea Giambruno, which lasted almost 10 years, ends here." She further added, "Our paths have diverged for some time, and the time has come to acknowledge it." The couple have a seven-year-old daughter. Giambruno is the presenter of a news programme transmitted by Mediaset, part of the MFE media group owned by the heirs of the late Silvio Berlusconi, the former premier and Meloni ally. (Twitter/@GiorgiaMeloni)

​At home Meloni has so far avoided the domestic political chaos that dogged so many of her predecessors. ​A divided opposition has helped her tighten her grip on power and keep her party at the top of the polls, with nearly 30% of voter support, against around 18.5% for the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and 17% for the maverick 5-Star Movement. (Twitter/@GiorgiaMeloni)