The big news out of Italy is that the country has elected Giorgia Meloni, a member of Fratelli d’Italia, to be the first female prime minister in Italy’s history. The first right-wing leader since Benito Mussolini came to power one hundred years ago, Meloni is poised to change the more liberal policies that have been part of the country since that time.
The world is mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who ended her 70 years as the British monarch with her death last week. The world has changed drastically since her ascension to the throne at the age of 25, and the influence she has had over leaders near and far will ripple long after her death.
Most of the news coming out of Russia recently has dealt with Putin’s war on Ukraine and the sanctions and ramifications of those actions. But early last week one of the greats fell when Mikhail Gorbachev succumbed to an unnamed protracted illness and died at the age of 91. He leaves a legacy that will outlast his name, as he was at the helm when the Soviet Union dissolved.
When it comes to balancing work and life, leaders of countries are in a difficult predicament. Sure, they need to show themselves as professional and put together, but they also deserve to have a life outside of the office. Because running an entire country is not easy, world leaders probably need leisure time even more than the average person. And do those who elect these politicians have the right to say how they spend their free time?