Meloni Takes a Chance to Tighten Grip on Corporate Italy

  • Prime minister undertakes a series of corporate interventions
  • Activism relies on voter backing and stable borrowing costs
Giorgia MeloniPhotographer: Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg
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After almost a year of treading carefully, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni is unleashing her brand of hands-on capitalism with greater gusto, and that’s making some investors nervous.

Bolstered by strong public support and stable borrowing costs, the 46-year-old prime minister is veering from earlier promises to follow the mainstream approach of predecessor Mario Draghi. In recent months, the right-wing leader has made a series of interventionist moves from airline fares to phone networks — and most notably a controversial late-night announcement to tax bank profits.