ROME, June 26 — The shift is subtle, but it matters. American progressives may have felt a flicker of sympathy for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni last week, after Donald Trump unleashed one of his trademark social media attacks on her. Trump claimed she “begged” him for a photo op; Meloni fired back that the idea was ridiculous.
But don’t let the spat fool you. Meloni remains a right-wing figure, and her party, the Brothers of Italy, partly traces its roots to Benito Mussolini’s old party. The other two strains of her coalition come from former media tycoon and right-wing Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, plus a more typical conservative party. She may also be forced to align with a hard-right, racist party that is gaining ground in Italy.
The trend underneath? Global progressives should be watching Elly Schlein instead.
Schlein is the 41-year-old leader of the Italian opposition — an official role — and a socialist. She hopes to beat Meloni in Italian national elections, which must be held before the end of 2027. That timeline puts the contest squarely in view, and the stakes are clear.
Watch this space. We’re involved in a global battle between left and right, and Schlein represents a genuine alternative to the Meloni brand of politics. She’s not a fringe figure; she’s the official opposition leader, with a real shot at power.
What’s changing is the conversation around her. For too long, American progressives have focused on Meloni’s occasional clashes with Trump, mistaking a personal feud for ideological distance. The facts say otherwise. Meloni is Trump’s ideological ally. Schlein is the one offering a different path.
The election deadline — before the end of 2027 — gives Schlein time to build momentum. It also gives global progressives time to pay attention. The battle between left and right isn’t just playing out in Washington or Brussels. It’s happening in Rome, too, and the socialist opposition leader is the one to watch.
