For the 20th consecutive year, Forbes has compiled its list of the 100 most powerful women in the world. This year’s list highlights a complex and unstable landscape of women’s socio-political, cultural, and economic influence. The evaluation is based on four main parameters: wealth, media influence, impact, and scope of influence.
The first Italian woman to hold a prominent position, ranking fourth on the list, is Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. On October 22, 2022, Meloni assumed the role of the Italian Prime Minister, making history as the first woman to hold this position. She is also the president of the right-wing party Fratelli d’Italia since March 2014.
“At the age of 15”, Forbes reported, “she joined the youth wing of the Italian Social Movement, a party founded by supporters of Benito Mussolini. In a speech given in June 2022, she took a clear stance on family issues: ‘Yes to natural families, no to the LGBT lobby, yes to sexual identity, no to gender ideology”. Today, Giorgia Meloni is the only woman leading a G20 country.
In this year’s ranking, among other notable names in the political sphere, there is Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (ranking first), Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ranking second), and Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (ranking third).
However, a significant numerical difference is evident compared to previous years, indicating a noticeable scarcity of women in top political roles. For instance, ten years ago, five women led nations among the top 25 global economies, whereas today, this number has reduced to only one. Moreover, out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, only 13 are currently led by female heads of government.
