In an interview with French television in 1996, in which then-teen activist Meloni praised dictator Benito Mussolini, Paratore was presented as a long-time activist for the post-fascist right. She rejected suggestions that Meloni - who campaigned on a motto of 'God, country and family' - would change Italy's abortion laws, saying: 'She is on the side of women and acquired rights.' The sisters were brought up in the working-class Rome neighbourhood of Garbatella by their mother, Anna Paratore, who has herself a keen interest in politics. Talking to La Stampa daily after the election, Arianna described her sister as 'very brave and very determined' and a 'perfectionist'. Arianna is also part of the Brothers of Italy family, married to Francesco Lollobrigida, head of the party's parliamentary group in the lower Chamber of Deputies and tipped for a ministerial post in a Meloni-led government. Meloni is very close with her older sister Arianna, who like her was involved in politics from a young age and who Meloni described as 'the most important person in my life' before her daughter Ginevra was born in 2016. The self-described 'Christian mother' has put defending traditional family values at the heart of her campaign, and her own family is key to both her backstory and her support network. The 45-year-old is on course to become the first woman to be Italy's prime minister after her Brothers of Italy party, which has neo-fascist roots, triumphed in Sunday's general election.

ROME: A like-minded sister, a brother-in-law tipped for government and a campaigning mother - politics is a family affair for Italian far-right leader Giorgia Meloni, even if her partner votes left.

I am confident brave and beautiful