The writer Michela Murgia believes the possible victory of the Fratelli d’Italia candidate in the elections could cause a slump in freedoms
Michela Murgia is the conscience of feminism in Italy. Intellectual and writer, in 2010 she was awarded the Campiello Prize, one of the most prestigious in the country, for her novel ‘La terminadora’ (Salamandra). Born in Sardinia in 1972 and with a theological background, Murgia maintains a strong political commitment and is deeply concerned about the consequences of the predicted victory in the polls of Fratelli d’Italia (FdI, Brothers of Italy), the far-right party led by Giorgia Meloni, at the September 25 general election.
-How can Italy change with a government led by Meloni?
I’m afraid she’s willing to backtrack on things that were thought impossible, like abortion. While she says she has no intention of ending the law that governs it, they will use all sorts of strategies to make it increasingly difficult to resort to voluntary termination of pregnancy, leaving many women forced to act on their own and buy the drugs. online, at the risk of an abortion without a doctor’s control. In this hostile climate, the next step would be to end this right immediately.
-But Meloni assures him that he will not change the law governing abortion…
– Nevertheless, compliance is at risk. In his program, FdI shows the idea he has of women when he states that mothers who give up their work to take care of their children will receive money. He says nothing about the men. It is a vision of the family of the 1950s, in which women become part of the social security system. The state is not concerned about creating nurseries or systems to care for children, but rather pays women to do so. And that in a country where there is a great need for women on the labor market.
-FdI confirms its intention to promote the birth rate, which is very low in Italy. Don’t you think it’s a problem?
The problem of low birth rates is not a women’s problem. It’s not that we should have children because the country demands it. It’s not a civic duty. If we have a birth problem, we must welcome those who come in from abroad and create the conditions for them to live well. But that is not the intention and it is even confirmed that there is a replacement. In the background is a racial issue: we want immigrants from Venezuela or Ukraine, but not blacks or Muslims.
– Do you consider the fact that Meloni can become the first Italian to rule her country, a step forward for women?
-The patriarchal model is transversal: if a woman embodies it in a radical and coherent way, as Meloni does, there is no problem with it. In addition, a woman must be doubly fierce when she reaches her peak. A woman who leads a right-wing party defends patriarchy even harder. Meloni is a macho leader. We all want more women in power because it increases the chances of feminists reaching those positions, but Meloni doesn’t delve into the mechanisms of the patriarchal power system.
-The FdI leader confirms that the left cannot teach her about the representation of women. Is right?
-Unfortunately yes. The Democratic Party (PD, center-left) cannot teach anyone. Outside of the quotas set aside for women, there is no room for them. Meloni is right when he says that the supposed moral superiority of the left is inconsistent with the facts. Machismo is transversal, you find it on the right and on the left, but it would be good if the left at least acknowledged that it is a transient situation that it is trying to overcome.
Aren’t you happy that Meloni might break the ‘glass ceiling’?
-He will reach the government without discussing the mechanisms of power. It represents a model that, in my opinion, should not be replicated, that of a hierarchical leader, showing herself powerful by attacking others and indicating enemies to fight against, as she does with gender ideology. I wouldn’t want girls growing up wanting to be such a leader, with a very muscular view of politics. She also does something very serious: she uses feminine symbolism to affirm power, such as when she says she will rule Italy as a mother takes care of her child. It is as if we are all children in his hands: a large nursery of 60 million people led by Meloni. It’s scary to think about it. It has a childish idea of citizenship, offering protection rather than autonomy and responsibility.
-Governments in Italy last on average just over 13 months. Do you think an eventual Executive led by Meloni could survive the five-year term of office?
-With the right in the government there is always more stability due to his hierarchical conception of power. I think the new Executive can hold out if FdI grants its League partners a few key ministries. Its leader, Matteo Salvini, will not make the same mistakes as he did in the previous term, when he toppled Conte’s first cabinet over his fight with his then partners in the 5-star movement. The next five years are to be used by the PD to form a real left-wing opposition. It should be defined in contrast to a far-right government like the one Meloni appears to lead.
Source: La Verdad
I am an experienced and passionate journalist with a strong track record in news website reporting. I specialize in technology coverage, breaking stories on the latest developments and trends from around the world. Working for Today Times Live has given me the opportunity to write thought-provoking pieces that have caught the attention of many readers.
