ITALY’S Giorgia Meloni has declared victory as the stunned country ushers in its most far-right leader since Benito Mussolini.
Meloni’s party, which has neo-fascist roots, will lead a new coalition and install the most right-wing government since World War Two.
The Brothers of Italy won 26 per cent in Sunday’s election, according to initial results.
They are set to take office in a coalition with the far-right League and Silvio Berlusconi‘s Forza Italia party.
A straight-speaking Italian raised by a single mum in a working-class neighbourhood, Meloni rails against what she calls “LGBT lobbies”, “woke ideology” and “the violence of Islam”.
And she has vowed to put a stop to the tens of thousands of migrants who arrive on Italy’s shores each year.
The centre-left Democratic Party has warned Meloni is a danger to democracy – and would pose a serious risk to hard-won rights such as abortion.
On the economy, Meloni’s coalition has pledged to cut taxes while increasing social spending, regardless of the cost.
In a victory speech on Monday, she said: “If we are called to govern this nation, we will do it for everyone, we will do it for all Italians and we will do it with the aim of uniting the people.
“Italy chose us. We will not betray (the country) as we never have.
