Italy's First Female Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, Named 'Man of the Year' by Newspaper

 

Giorgia Meloni, Italy's trailblazing first female Prime Minister, has been bestowed with the title of "Man of the Year" by a right-wing newspaper. The accolade, featured in the pages of Libero, has sparked criticism from women's rights activists in Italy, who argue that Meloni has not done enough to address and combat violence against women.

The article, crafted by Mario Sechi, the Rome bureau chief of Libero and a former leader of Meloni's public relations team, bears the headline 'Man of the Year.' It hails Meloni for triumphing in what it terms "the war of the sexes" in Italy, asserting that she has not only shattered the glass ceiling but dissolved it.

"In our society, characterized by weak thinking, we have acknowledged strong ideas," Sechi expressed in the article, noting that Meloni has been recognized for her ability to think differently and be divergent in a society marked by excessive diversity. The article argues that Meloni, by demonstrating her prowess in times of conflict, has effectively nullified the war between genders.

Italy's opposition parties, however, did not welcome the article, accusing Meloni of neglecting the concerns of Italian women. Elly Schlein, secretary of the centre-left Democratic Party, critiqued the notion, stating, "Today a right-wing newspaper is explaining to us that politics and power are for men." She added that being named 'Man of the Year' is a surrender rather than an aspiration for a politician.

MP Elisabetta Piccolotti echoed similar sentiments, describing the article as an endorsement of male superiority. On social media, Piccolotti called on Prime Minister Meloni to clarify her stance on gender, asking, "Are you a woman, are you a man, or are you non-binary?"

In contrast, Gennaro Sangiuliano, the culture minister in Meloni's government and a former deputy director of Libero, defended the title 'Man of the Year,' asserting that it was well-deserved.