Leader of Italy's nationalist Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia) party and frontrunner to become prime minister Giorgia Meloni, holds a closing rally in Naples, Italy, September 23, 2022.
Fast forward three years, and the nationalist leader is also poised to become Italy's first female prime minister.
It is from tomorrow that we must prove our worth," the 45-year-old Meloni told party faithful early Monday morning.
All the tough talking inevitably draws comparisons in the Italian press between Meloni and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Just as Thatcher shattered Britain's glass ceiling to top office 43 years ago, so Meloni looks set to follow suit in Italy.