Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been recognized as the most powerful figure in Europe this year by Politico.

On Tuesday, the international publication announced its Class of 2025 rankings, placing Meloni at the top.

"Who do you call if you want to speak to Europe? If you're Elon Musk — the world's richest man and a key adviser to United States President-elect Donald Trump — the answer is Giorgia Meloni," the magazine stated. It described her as the ideal "representative of the increasingly radical zeitgeist taking root on both sides of the Atlantic."

Politico detailed Meloni's meteoric rise, noting that in under a decade, the leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy party has transformed her image from being dismissed as an "ultranationalist outsider" to becoming Italy’s prime minister.

Meloni’s tenure, the publication noted, has been marked by stability — a rarity in post-war Italian politics. Her government’s steady leadership has made her a key figure in international diplomacy, capable of engaging both Brussels and Washington.

The piece also highlighted Meloni’s growing influence as a symbol of broader political shifts, reflecting her ability to navigate and shape a rapidly evolving political landscape in Europe and beyond.