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Written by Nicole Ivona Luketic and Roberts Žanis Bete. Edited by Luka Draganski, Tea Zubak and Alessia Garre.
Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d’Italia)
Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d’Italia) is a national-conservative and right-wing populist party in Italy. It is currently the leading party in the governing coalition, which does not include the Democratic Party, as it remains in opposition. The party is led by Giorgia Meloni, who serves as the Prime Minister of Italy.
Brothers of Italy was founded in 2012 as a right-wing split from The People of Freedom (Il Popolo della Libertà). The party’s name comes from the opening words of the Italian national anthem. Since its inception, it has promoted nationalist ideals, expressed skepticism toward certain European Union policies, and adopted a firm stance on immigration.
Immigration Policies of Brothers of Italy
Brothers of Italy strongly promotes national identity and has adopted strict policies against illegal immigration. Under Meloni’s government, immigration laws have been tightened, including extended detention periods for unauthorized migrants and increased cooperation with external countries to curb migration flows.
For example, the Italian government reached an agreement with Albania to process asylum seekers outside the EU. However, this plan faced legal challenges, with an Italian court blocking the rapid expulsion of asylum seekers, citing safety concerns regarding certain deportation destinations. Despite these measures, illegal migrant arrivals have surged, with over 130,000 migrants reaching Italy in 2023—nearly double the figure from the previous year. Giorgia Meloni acknowledged that migration management has been more challenging than expected.
Reports from human rights organizations have raised concerns about the treatment of migrants in detention centers, particularly in Libya, where migrants face abuse, violence, and extortion. These concerns have led to criticism of Italy’s agreements with certain North African countries to curb migration.
Natalist and Nationalist Policies
Brothers of Italy promotes nationalist values and traditional family structures. The party opposes euthanasia, same-sex marriage, and the expansion of abortion rights, often collaborating with anti-abortion movements. A key policy focus is increasing Italy’s birth rate among native citizens to reduce the country’s reliance on migrant labor.
The party has faced scrutiny due to historical ties with National Alliance (Alleanza Nazionale), the successor to the Italian Social Movement (Movimento Sociale Italiano), which had post-fascist roots. While Brothers of Italy officially distances itself from fascism, some members and supporters have made gestures or statements interpreted as nostalgic toward Italy’s fascist past. Additionally, Rachele Mussolini, a descendant of Benito Mussolini, was elected to Rome’s city council, though she does not openly promote fascist ideology.
Economic Policies
On economic issues, Brothers of Italy supports tax cuts and workfare policies that require welfare recipients to either take on public-service jobs or participate in job training programs to receive benefits. The party prioritizes national economic sovereignty and opposes excessive EU regulations that it sees as limiting Italy’s fiscal independence.
While there have been various investigations into financial practices within Italian politics, there is no verified evidence directly linking Brothers of Italy to money laundering or neo-Nazi groups. Allegations regarding extremist financial connections remain unproven at this time.
Personal Perspective
We believe that people worldwide should be more aware of political developments, even if they do not directly affect them—yet. Politics in every country is interconnected, and the consequences of policies can have far-reaching effects.
Young people should educate themselves about historical and contemporary political events to understand how certain decisions lead to specific consequences. History has shown that ignorance and complacency can allow harmful ideologies to rise unchecked. It is our responsibility to remain informed and engaged to prevent history from repeating itself.
Source:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Giorgia-Meloni
https://apnews.com/article/elections-rome-italy-6aa9fcb003071c307190a4053f199d98
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothers_of_Italy
https://hir.harvard.edu/giorgia-melonis-legacy-breaking-glass-ceilings-and-closing-borders/
https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv1jpf6bt
