Italy’s Meloni faces prime tests over Europe and Ukraine

THE prime test for Giorgia Meloni – who after the Sep 25 elections is likely to lead Italy’s next government – is whether she can maintain Mario Draghi’s steady implementation of the country’s European recovery programme.

She will also be under heavy pressure, particularly from the US, to maintain the cohesion of the G7 group of leading industrial nations in the alliance against Russia over the Ukrainian war.

Under the 19-month premiership of Draghi, former president of the European Central Bank (ECB), Italy has fared better economically than many other Western countries. The election outcome has added to the country’s many risks.