Giorgia Meloni's Italy: An authoritarian drift? (Part 1)

In this edition of Europe Rendezvous, we travel to Italy, one of the European Union's founding members, to examine how the country's democratic institutions have come under increasing pressure. It may be the season of la dolce vita, but life has been far from sweet for migrants, women seeking abortions in parts of Italy, and journalists facing growing political pressure on the media. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni leads a coalition of conservatives and the far right, and as the 2027 elections approach, her government has been accused of seeking greater influence over the judiciary, the media and the electoral system. In our first report, Renaud Lefort profiles Italy's first female prime minister, speaking with her longtime mentor, Gianfranco Fini, a pivotal figure in the history of the Italian far right. We also speak to Paolo Borchia, a Member of the European Parliament from the Patriots for Europe group and a member of The League, one of Meloni's coalition partners. We ask whether participating in government has come at the cost of The League's credibility and support in the polls. From the opposition, MEP Dario Nardella of the Socialists and Democrats offers a critical assessment...