Is the far right about to come to power in Italy?

The Italian prime minister, Mario Draghi, has resigned after roughly a year and a half in charge of a caretaker government, meaning there will be early elections.

Emily Tamkin and Katie Stallard in Washington DC are joined by Jeremy Cliffe in Berlin to discuss why Draghi quit, the far-right coalition hoping to take power, and what a government led by Giorgia Maloni would mean for Italy and its future support for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, China is warning of “serious consequences” if Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, visits Taiwan, as she is said to be planning. The team discuss what’s behind those threats, why the timing of the proposed visit is particularly important, and how it could exacerbate tensions between Washington and Beijing.

In You Ask Us, a listener asks why a long-term adviser to Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister, has resigned.

If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.

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Further reading:

Katie Stallard writes on the gathering storm over Pelosi's proposed visit to China.

Jeremy Cliffe on what a Giorgia Meloni government would mean for Italy.

Emily Tamkin on the threat of Viktor Orbán's anti-mixed race speech.

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