Italy

Welcome to today's Morning Brief, where we're following the rise of Giorgia Meloni, Russia's decision to grant Edward Snowden citizenship, and Cuba's vote ...

The report also said that some orders of torture—including electric shocks and asphyxiation— [came directly](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/venezuela-rejects-un-report-detailing-torture-rights-abuses/2022/09/26/9878ddfc-3db0-11ed-8c6e-9386bd7cd826_story.html?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wp_world) from President Nicolás Maduro. No to the ideology of gender.” On immigration, she has pushed for a Mediterranean “ [naval blockade](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/26/italy-meloni-right-wing-migration/)” and previously declared that Italy’s existing policies could transform it into the “ [refugee camp](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/26/italy-meloni-right-wing-migration/) of Europe.” The trip’s agenda will likely be dominated by security issues, especially over [Taiwan](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-harris-japanese-leader-condemn-chinas-actions-taiwan-strait-statement-2022-09-26/) and North Korea, which fired a ballistic missile on Sunday. Anatoly Kucherena, Snowden’s lawyer, said that he was not [summoned](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/26/putin-snowden-citizenship-russia/) in Putin’s recent military mobilization because he does not have [prior military](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/26/putin-grants-russian-citizenship-to-us-whistleblower-edward-snowden) experience. It marks a historic turn for the country, which has a fraught legacy of sending gay men to [labor camps](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63035426). But the election was marked by [record-low voter turnout](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/26/world/europe/italy-election-meloni-what-to-know.html?smid=tw-nytimesworld&smtyp=cur), with just 64 percent of people participating, almost a ten percent drop compared to the last general election. According to Amnesty International, four children have been killed by government forces since the protests began, due to “deliberate and unlawful firing of live ammunition at protesters.” [soften](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/15/world/europe/giorgia-meloni-italy-right.html) her position ahead of the election, Meloni is known for her hard-line stances, famously [proclaiming](https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/09/22/giorgia-meloni-and-her-brothers-of-italy-look-set-to-win-the-next-election): “Yes to the natural family. The demonstrations were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody for allegedly wearing insufficiently modest clothing. In the coming months, Italy’s economic outlook—a key factor in this election—could prove to be a major test for new leadership. Her success was largely built on “the credibility crisis of her adversaries on the left and her allies on the right, who have all become increasingly inconsistent in the eyes of the public,” he wrote. She is expected to head the country’s most right-wing government since the era of fascist leader Benito Mussolini.

Italy's next prime minister promises a lot on the campaign trail but the reality of government will prove a shock.

Meloni will have a chance to take a hardline approach on domestic policy and will certainly endeavour to be tougher on migration and on social rights, as her electorate appears to be demanding. While the electoral results established her as the clear head of the coalition, a lack of expertise and experience will make populating ministerial posts a challenge. By staying outside of the coalition, Meloni gave herself the opportunity to freely criticise the government and present her party as the only true opposition. Meloni will become prime minister at the head of a coalition – although the make up of that government is yet to be decided. They made a particularly strong showing in the south, thanks to policies of this kind. By February 2021, when former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi was forming a national unity government, 16.5% of the voting public was already saying they intended to vote for Brothers of Italy – the only major political party not supporting Draghi.

The leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy has kept out of sight since winning the election.

Her party was born out of a post-war movement rooted in the fascist past of dictator Benito Mussolini. He also warned that nobody would get a job in the new cabinet by planting party flags on seats. A Meloni government would be judged by its actions, he said. She picked her daughter up from school and worked off some stress in the gym. One former League leader, Roberto Maroni, has even suggested it is time for Mr Salvini to stand down. Several European countries have expressed alarm at her victory.

Russian gas currently accounts for about 10% of Italian imports, down from around 40% before Russia invaded Ukraine in February, according to the people. A very ...