Politician · policy

Giorgia Meloni on Family and Social Policy

Pro-Family Social Conservative (strong)

Giorgia Meloni maintains a firm stance rooted in Catholic conservatism regarding Family and Social Policy, frequently invoking the principle of 'Dio, patria, famiglia' ('God, fatherland, family'). She explicitly opposes same-sex marriage and same-sex parenting, asserting that the nuclear family is exclusively headed by male-female pairs. This conservative social platform underpins much of her legislative agenda as Prime Minister.

Meloni is also vocal in her opposition to policies she categorizes as promoting 'gender ideology,' which she claims attacks female identity and motherhood, as seen in her stance against the DDL Zan anti-homophobia bill. Her policies often seek to actively support the traditional family unit through legislative and constitutional means, such as efforts to ban surrogacy and constitutional reform related to parenthood.

Historically, Giorgia Meloni has shown opposition to issues like abortion, though she has stated she would not change the existing law, preferring instead to enforce the provision allowing doctors conscientious objection to performing them. This focus on traditional values and the nuclear family serves as a defining characteristic of her national-conservative political brand.

Timeline

  1. Participated in the Family Day demonstration and announced her pregnancy, affirming her opposition to LGBT adoption at the event.
  2. While stating she would respect the existing civil union law if elected mayor of Rome, she had previously supported a referendum to abrogate it.
  3. Criticized The Walt Disney Company for including a gay couple in the film Frozen II, expressing outrage at the inclusion of such themes in content for children.
  4. Spoke out against replacing 'father' and 'mother' with 'parent 1' and 'parent 2' on Italian identity cards for minors.
  5. Declared there is 'no homophobia' in Italy while opposing the DDL Zan, an anti-homophobia bill.
  6. Upon forming government, her administration pursued legislation to make surrogacy a 'universal crime,' a push supported by the Catholic Church.

Actions Taken

  1. Legislation
    Pushed for a law in Parliament to make surrogacy (known pejoratively as 'uterus renting') a 'universal crime.'
  2. Policy_statement
    Stated she would not change the abortion law but would fully apply the part concerning prevention and support conscientious objection for doctors.
  3. Constitutional_reform
    The government approved a constitutional reform to provide for the direct election of the prime minister (premierato) and a new electoral law favoring the leading coalition.
  4. Legislation
    Following new legislation, only a child's biological parent can be named on their birth certificate.
  5. Legislation
    The Senate voted to extend a ban on surrogacy to couples who go abroad to obtain the procedure.

Key Quotes

Yes to the natural family. No to the LGBT lobby, yes to sexual identity. No to gender ideology. No to Islamist violence, yes to secure borders. No to mass migration, no to big international finance, no to the bureaucrats of Brussels.

Vox's party congress speech January 1, 2021 — Meloni stated her core social and political tenets at a gathering of international conservatives.

I am Giorgia. I'm a woman, I'm a mother, I'm Italian, I'm Christian.

Italian Pride rally speech October 19, 2019 — Meloni delivered a widely publicized speech at a rally in Rome.

I would rather not have a gay child.

Interview on Le Iene February 1, 2016 — Meloni shared this personal view during an interview with the TV show.

Criticism

Critics/Observers

Her stance on LGBT rights led critics to be skeptical of her claims of moderation prior to the 2022 election.

Opposition parties

Accused the government of favoring the North over the South with the 'differentiated autonomy' bill.

Hillary Clinton

Commented that Meloni's election represented a break with the past, which prompted immediate criticism from others who viewed it as continuity with Italy's 'darkest episode' (contextualizing her political roots).

Feminists

Accused Meloni of being anti-women, particularly regarding her opposition to pink quotas.