Italy’s Election is a Wake-Up Call for Europe and the U.S.

Abandoning the working class is hurting progressives worldwide.

“Non tradiremo la vostra fiducia. Siamo #pronti a risollevare l’Italia”. We will not betray your trust. We are #pronti to revive Italy THANK YOU! (source: Giorgia Meloni Twitter, official)

Unless something unforeseen happens, Italy has just elected its first female Prime Minister in history.

Giorgia Meloni ran on an unapologetically conservative platform of “God, Family, and Country,” to the usual media chorus accusing the right-leaning politician of racism, fascism, nationalism and a laundry list of other names.

Her election, U.S. President Joe Biden tells us, is a threat to democracy.

For her part, Meloni seems even more than impervious to the name-calling: She seems to consider it a badge of honor.

In defending herself, Ms. Meloni doesn’t hold back her criticism or contempt for the ruling elites of Europe. They have not delivered for the working class of Italy, contends Meloni.

For the working classes in Italy, as in other parts of the world, the worst excesses of globalization have resulted in more income inequality- not less. Instead of sharing the gifts of global capitalism, wealthy corporations, political parties and individuals have enriched themselves at the expense of the working classes through exploitation and profiteering.

Even improperly-managed immigration- a hot-button issue for the Meloni campaign…