Meloni's Christmas Festival: Far-Right Power Play in a Winter Wonderland

A major Christmas festival in Rome is doubling as a showcase for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her party's influence. The "Atreju" festival is a week-long event organized by Meloni's Brothers of Italy party. It has transformed the historic gardens of Rome's Castel Sant'Angelo. Visitors find a winter scene with an ice rink, market stalls, and holiday performers. But the festival is more than seasonal entertainment. Political analysts see it as a platform for Meloni to display her power. The Brothers of Italy party is described as "far-right" by many observers. The event allows Meloni to connect with supporters in a celebratory setting. One visitor, Leila Cader, described initially seeing only a charming Christmas market. "We thought we’d chanced upon an enchanting winter wonderland," she said. The festival bears the name "Atreju," a character from a German fantasy novel. It has become a key annual gathering for Italy's ruling party.