Politician's likely ascent comes at a time of national fragility, with the country wracked by economic woes, spiraling inflation and an immigration crisis

Calogero Pisano alluded to Nazi leader as a 'great statesman' in 2014 Facebook post; Brothers of Italy leader Georgia Meloni has worked to leave party's neo-fascist roots behind

For many female voters it's a question of gender versus agenda, with some worried that Meloni, who exalts motherhood, may seek to erode women's rights, including abortion access

2 weeks before election, right-wing parties seen taking 46% of votes, far ahead of leftist rivals with 28.5%; Meloni, who heads post-fascist party, would be country's 1st female PM

PD candidate resigns over 2014 post questioning existence of Jewish state, while party chairman reiterates support for Israel ahead of parliamentary vote next month

Giorgia Meloni may become Italy's first female premier almost exactly 100 years after Adolf Hitler's ally Benito Mussolini became country's dictator

Giorgia Meloni, whose party currently leads in opinion polls, insists that Italian conservatives have abandoned Mussolini's ideology to history

Roberto Gualtieri elected mayor of capital, the main prize in Italy local vote that saw right parties lose out in other key cities

PM Draghi says government 'reflecting' on parliamentary motions urging outlawing of Forza Nuova; Jewish community alarmed at recent violence in capital