Giorgia Meloni, Italy's prime minister, says: 'Don't call me Mr.'

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday (28 October) that she does not want to be called "mister" in a retraction on a government circular stating this would be her official title.

Meloni's office released a statement saying that, although she was advised the best title for the job by protocol experts in the government, Meloni did not wish to use it.

Right-wing Meloni took office last weekend following a victory in 25 September elections. Feminists were already offended when she said she would use the masculine form for her title, the president of council of ministers.

Names can be either masculine or female in Italian. Meloni's title was preceded with the masculine article "il" rather than the feminine name "la" in her first statement on Sunday (23 October).

The government circular, which Meloni was already thinking about, went one step further. It declared that Meloni's official title should include "Signor" or Mister.

"The title to use is... Mr. President of the Council of Ministers," stated the circular that was issued by her office to all ministries.

Meloni's rise in power broke the glass ceiling for Italy’s women politicians but she isn't known as a feminist.

She is against female quotas in parliament and boardrooms. She believes that women should rise through merit and has appointed six women to her 24-strong cabinet.

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