Italian PM Meloni Beats Biden In Popularity

After less than three months in office, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is now more popular in her home country than President Joe Biden is in his. This also comes after significant criticism by left-leaning press outlets of Meloni’s leadership.

Meloni has a current approval rating of 53% in Italy, while President Biden has a low 41% approval rating among Americans. The news also follows Biden insulting the new prime minister, using her as an example to encourage people to vote for Democrats in the midterm elections.

The prime minister enjoyed an increase in popularity after entering office. Meloni leads a conservative bloc in Italy’s parliament and is an ally of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. She also serves as Italy’s first woman to enter the office.

Meloni has shown results during her young tenure. The Italian government suspended charges on natural gas, leading to a decline of almost half of its cost to consumers. Furthermore, Meloni ended vaccine requirements and suspended all fines related to COVID-19.

Meloni’s popularity comes after a number of short-lasting and unpopular Italian leaders. The country has had eight prime ministers since 2011, with two serving in less than a year.

Meloni’s premiership also marks the first time in more than a decade that a center-right coalition has controlled government.

The prime minister’s popularity follows significant criticism in the press. Many media outlets accused Meloni of having ties to far-right movements, without supporting evidence.

The new prime minister’s Brothers of Italy bloc ties together her party of the same name and two other conservative ones into one that carried the most seats in Italy’s legislature in the September elections.

Meloni is popular outside of Italy, as well. She is considered a prime mover among conservative parties in the European Parliament. Such a position may allow the conservative bloc in that body to pass new immigration controls.

Meloni’s popularity also highlights the relative unpopularity of President Biden in the United States. Recent high inflation figures and economic data may show Meloni ahead of Biden later this year, as well.