Giorgia Meloni becomes Italy's first ever woman PM; Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets wishes

Giorgia Meloni has created history by becoming the first ever women Prime Minister of Italy. Meloni, who heads Brothers of Italy, has led a coalition of right-wing parties to victory. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated her on her being elected for the coveted post. The PM said that he was looking forward to strengthen ties between the two countries.

"Congratulations @GiorgiaMeloni for leading your party @FratellidItalia to victory in the Italian general elections. We look forward to working together to strengthen our ties," the Prime Minister tweeted on @narendramodi.

As vote counting concluded in 99 per cent of polling stations across the country, nationalist Brothers of Italy was put at 26 per cent of the vote, according to data provided by the Interior Ministry on Monday evening, IANS reported on Monday.

The Brothers of Italy campaigned in coalition with two allies, the League party and centre-right Forza Italia party, which gained some 8.7 per cent and 8.1 per cent, respectively. Therefore, their weight in the next government was expected to be less pivotal than that of Meloni`s party, the report said.

"Italians have entrusted us with a relevant responsibility, and it will be our task to not let them down and to make our best to restore the nation`s dignity and pride," Meloni said on her official Facebook page on Monday according to the IANS report.

"We will aim at unifying and at highlighting what can bring us close, not what divides us," she added.

Her main contender, the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) led by Enrico Letta got 19 per cent of the votes and conceded defeat.

Source: Enrico Letta /Twitter 

"We are going to make the necessary assessment in the next days, since it is clear mistakes (in their campaign) have been made," Letta said.

Letta also announced that he would lead the party until its next Congress, which will be held "as soon as possible," and step down after a new leader is chosen.

While the right-wing coalition all together gained between 43.7 per cent and 44 per cent of seats, the centre-left alliance -- made of PD and three minor allies -- won some 26 per cent.