A shaky economy has forced Italy's far-right prime minister to scale back her populist agenda

When she was elected Italy's first female prime minister, Giorgia Meloni inherited an economy with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 144 per cent. A year later, the economy remains the biggest impediment to the populist reforms she campaigned on.

A shaky economy has forced Italy's far-right prime minister to scale back her populist agenda
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reacts on the day of the informal meeting of European heads of state or government takes place in Granada, Spain October 6, 2023.

When she was elected Italy's first female prime minister, Giorgia Meloni inherited an economy with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 144 per cent. A year later, the economy remains the biggest impediment to the populist reforms she campaigned on.