As Meloni’s hold over Italy weakens, a progressive challenger gathers momentum in Genoa

<p>Silvia Salis, the leftwing mayor of Genoa and former Olympian, is described as ‘a breath of fresh air’ and potential unifier</p><p>It has been a turbulent month in Italian politics.</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/28/young-voters-italy-referendum-giorgia-meloni">A failed referendum on a judicial overhaul</a> pierced prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s aura of invincibility, triggering government resignations and leaving her scrambling to restore credibility. At the same time, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/16/giorgia-meloni-relations-donald-trump-italy">her once special relationship with Donald Trump has frayed</a> after the US president publicly scolded her this week for criticising his broadside against Pope Leo and for not supporting the US-Israeli war on Iran.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/18/giorgia-meloni-hold-weakens-italy-silvia-salis-genoa-mayor">Continue reading...</a>