Italy’s Giorgia Meloni Seizes Power as Europe’s Most Influential Leader Despite Far-Right Roots

Giorgia Meloni is being cast by multiple outlets as Europe’s preeminent political force.

“South Africa has filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention”

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This elevation is influenced by Politico’s ranking and a regional vacuum of strong centrist leadership.

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Coverage traces her trajectory from "neo-fascist" and "ultranationalist" beginnings to an EU-accepted power broker.

She now presides over one of Italy’s most stable postwar governments.

Several reports note she benefits from weakened leadership in Paris and Berlin.

She also gains from growing direct engagement with figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump.

The overarching picture is of a leader whose hard-edged origins have not prevented her from becoming central to European and transatlantic conversations.

However, the exact timing and framing of her "most powerful" designation differ across reports.

Across EU policy, especially migration, Politico describes Meloni moving from Euroskeptic roots to a transactional partnership with Brussels.

She is shaping the bloc’s agenda alongside Ursula von der Leyen.

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Politico reports she helped drive deals with North African countries and inspired new EU migration-control directives.

She also attempted—then largely abandoned after legal setbacks—a plan to detain undocumented migrants in Albania.

Other outlets echo her influence but with different tones.

Some celebrate “historic agreements,” while others underline that her migration and LGBTQ+ stances remain controversial.

Despite this, EU elites are increasingly accepting her.

On the European stage, multiple outlets depict Meloni as reconciling roots in Euroskeptic nationalism with practical cooperation.

“Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed a unique complaint filed against her amid widespread protests over Israel’s war on Gaza”

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She minimizes anti-EU rhetoric, aligns with NATO, and champions Ukraine.

Politico notes she even persuaded Hungary to back a major aid package for Ukraine.

Others underline the pragmatic mechanics of her influence, describing a ‘complicated’ yet mutually useful rapport with von der Leyen.

There is a leadership vacuum in Paris and Berlin, which Meloni fills.

She maintains a steady stream of engagement from Brussels and Washington.

Her profile eclipses even Macron and Scholz in some rankings.

At home, portrayals diverge between boosterism and scrutiny.

il Giornale salutes Politico’s accolade as proof Italy is not isolated and lauds the unusual stability of her government.

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L’Unità agrees she’s consolidated power and cites polling near 29%, but argues Politico’s upbeat profile ignores shortcomings on growth, employment, poverty, and inflation.

Meanwhile, other accounts keep noting she commands a durable majority yet faces controversy on rights and migration even as that stance gains acceptance among EU elites.

Sky TG24 adds current domestic maneuvering on the budget and judicial matters, underscoring how her consolidation coexists with continued political contention.

Beyond Brussels, a West Asian perspective reveals points of tension.

“Date: Italy's right-wing prime minister Giorgia Meloni has been crowned "Europe's most powerful person" inthe Class of 2025 rankingsby US political newspaperPolitico”

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Al Jazeera highlights protests against Israel’s war on Gaza and SIPRI data showing Italy as one of only three major arms suppliers to Israel from 2020 to 2024.

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These supplies include components for F‑35 fighter jets, which critics fear could be used in breaches of international humanitarian law.

Italy’s defense minister maintains that deliveries continue only under contracts signed before October 7 and with guarantees that they will not target civilians.

This stance contrasts with her strong support for Ukraine and alignment with NATO and the EU.

These controversies test the limits of her pragmatic cooperation, which some sources suggest could either deepen or shift back toward more hardline positions depending on future developments.