From political wilderness to pole position to become Italy's first female prime minister, this is the moment Giorgia Meloni has been waiting for all her political life, since she first started as a far-right teen activist in a working class district of Rome.

Giorgia Meloni's ardent nationalism really worries Brussels.

Italy is the bloc's third largest economy and one of its founding members.

On the campaign trail she often spoke of Italy being downtrodden by the EU's bigger and more wealthy members.

And while she's steered clear of calling for Italy to leave the euro or the European Union altogether, she is thought likely to team up with members seen by Brussels as "problematic" - Hungary and Poland - particularly when it comes to migration.

She describes Ms Meloni as a political pragmatist, who's clocked the importance of EU money, especially the eagerly-anticipated and considerable Covid-19 funds, designed to help boost member states' economies after the pandemic.

Italy is one of Europe's most indebted nations, yet Giorgia Meloni's welfare promises are considerable.

Giorgia Meloni claims victory in Italy's general election.

Giorgia Meloni's election victory comes at a critical time for Europe, with war back on the continent.

Italy has been particularly hard hit as it used to rely so much on Russia for gas.

Nato allies worry that mounting Italian public pressure over what's expected to be a tough winter, could persuade Giorgia Meloni to pull back from sanctions and a hard line against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

We can only hope she'll keep her promise to get Italy back on its feet.".

Giorgia Meloni's will be the most right-leaning Italian government since the World War Two.

And Italy's election comes hot on the heels of a vote in Sweden, which saw the Sweden Democrats - with its roots in Neo-Nazism - become the country's second largest party?

And in that sense, Giorgia Meloni will fit right in?

Who's who in Italy's election?