Meloni says time for figure from Right of political spectrum of be Italy's president

Premier Giorgia Meloni has said it is

time for a figure from the Right of the political spectrum to

become Italy's president.

"After breaking the one at (the premier's office at) Palazzo

Chigi, the right can break the taboo of the Quirinal

(presidential palace) too," Meloni, the leader of the right-wing

Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, told Mediaset's '10 Minuti'

programme.

"It would be terrible news for a certain part of the

establishment, but it would affirm something very simple - that

those who aren't on the Left aren't the children of a lesser

god.

"But the Italians will decide".

Meloni became Italy's ever woman premier and its most right-wing

head of government since World War II after the centre-right

coalition she heads won the September 2022 general election.

President Sergio Mattarella's second term as Italy's head of

State is set to end in 2029.

Meloni also spoke about general-turned-politician Roberto

Vannacci and his new far-right National Future (FN) party,

saying she could see no difference between it and the other

opposition groups.

"They vote in the same way as the Left (in parliament), they're

always speaking out against us," she said.

When asked about FN's flagship policy proposal, remigration, she

said this amounted to "assisted voluntary repatriations" which

her government already carries out.

She also said her recent spat with US President Donald Trump had

not made her turn sour on the United States.

"I wasn't on my knees yesterday, and I'm not anti-American

today," she said.

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