Sept. 19 (UPI) -- In the autumn of 1922, Benito Mussolini, the ambitious and charismatic founder of the Fascist Party, became Italy's youngest prime minister -- seizing power in a march on Rome that ushered in a dark period of totalitarian rule.
A century on, Italy looks set to get its first far-right leader since Mussolini's body was strung up for all to see at the end of World War II. On Sunday, voters are widely expected to elect as prime minister Giorgia Meloni, the leader of Fratelli d'Italia, or Brothers of Italy -- a party whose lineage traces back to the rump of Mussolini's fascists.
Many Italians and Europeans are understandably worried. Her likely ascent comes at a time of national fragility for Italy, which is wracked by economic woes, spiraling inflation and an immigration crisis. It also poses uncomfortable questions over the idea of European identity and unity. Moreover, it is a symptom of the political malaise in Italy and of the winds that have seen populist right-wing leaders gain support around the world.
Who is Meloni?
Meloni has been accused of being a political provocateur. A proud nationalist, her policy stances stress anti-immigration positions and the protection of Italy from "Islamization." In contrast, she presents herself as the defender of traditional family values, politicizing Christianity and motherhood as the cornerstones of the authentic Italian national identity. In a 2019 speech, she explained: "I am Giorgia. I am a woman, I am a mother, I am Italian, I am a Christian" -- a rhetorical flourish that went viral, even being turned into a disco remix.