Securitization of Immigration through Populist rhetoric in Italy by the Brothers of Italy (FdI)

So-called threat of immigration and refugee flow by the various politicians in recent times have become a very prominent tool to rise to political and social power. Through populism political parties and to those who are in the lead started to gain the legitimacy and the votes of the people. Italy through the last couple years experienced this phenomenon. One of the most visible example is the influence of the Fratelli d'Italia and the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Pointing immigration on all kinds as a threat to identity and society in general while putting it in a securitization process to make it a source of stable power. This study is a discussion focused on the speech acts of the Fratelli d'Italia and the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni through news outlets, speeches, quotes and several propagandas stated within programmes while presenting a prominent debate on the securitization of immigration within Italy through populist rhetoric. This research had been conducted through the assumption based on the securitization theory and the populist views of the political party at hand through manifestos, speeches and events that took place in the recent history. These events still continue to have effects in our times. Keywords: Italy, Populism, Securitization, Immigration, Europe