In Italy, Giorgia Meloni, the country’s first female Prime Minister, has been dubbed the “man of the year” by a right-wing newspaper called Libero. The article, penned by Mario Sechi, the paper’s Rome bureau chief and a former member of Meloni’s PR team, praises her for breaking the so-called “glass ceiling” and winning the “war of the sexes” in the country.
The article, titled ‘Man of the Year,’ contends that Meloni has dissolved the gender divide, stating, “In our society of weak thinking, we have recognized strong ideas.” It goes on to say that Meloni, in times of war, has shown her ability to fight and has overcome the arrogance of men and the defeatism of women.
While the article may have been intended as a celebration of Meloni’s achievements, it has faced criticism from women’s rights activists in Italy. Opposition parties accuse Meloni of “abandoning Italian women,” arguing that the title ‘Man of the Year’ perpetuates the notion that politics and power are reserved for men.
Elly Schlein, secretary of the centre-left Democratic Party, expressed her disapproval, stating, “Today a right-wing newspaper is explaining to us that politics and power are for men.” She sees the designation as a form of surrender, emphasizing that her aspiration as a politician is not to become ‘man of the year.’
Another Member of Parliament, Elisabetta Piccolotti, deems the article as an affirmation of male superiority and calls on Prime Minister Meloni to reject the title. On social media, Piccolotti raises the question, “Prime Minister, please clarify: 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, defends the title, asserting that ‘Man of the Year’ is well-deserved. As of now, Giorgia Meloni has not provided any public comment on the Libero article. The controversy surrounding the title continues to stir debate on gender roles and perceptions of power in Italian politics.
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