Giorgia Meloni is the first fascist prime minister since Mussolini

Meloni, the first woman prime minister, has been part of the country's far-right government since the end of World War II in 1945.

The 45-year-old was sworn in before the Italian President at the Presidential Palace on Saturday, becoming the first woman to lead the country.

The national-conservative party, the Brothers of Italy, received the most votes in last month's elections.

The party is widely seen as the heir to the Italian Social Movement (MSI), a party active from 1945 to 1995 and founded by former members of Benito Mussolini's banned National Fascist Party.