Giorgia Meloni could become Italy’s next prime minister if her far-right Brothers of Italy party, as widely expected, wins the general election on 25 September. She has steered a middle line between the conflicting challenges of not losing touch with her hard-core voter base (which includes neo-fascists) and wooing the moderate conservatives she needs to reinforce her position as Italy’s largest party.Â
 ECB rate rise confirms hawks gaining upper hand By David Marsh and Neil Williams The outcome of the European Central Bank’s decision to raise key interest rates is an uneasy lull ahead of 25 September elections in Italy, widely expected to result in a new right-of-centre government in Rome.Â
 MEETINGS Energy security and the economic outlook in Europe Tuesday 11 October, Roundtable As European countries seek to phase out Russian energy from their domestic markets, Jörg Kukies, state secretary at the German Chancellery and G7 and G20 sherpa, discusses Germany’s approach to energy diversification and security, market stability and curbing price rises.Â
 ON DEMAND Japan’s approach to sustainable finance and regulatory practice Satoshi Ikeda, chief sustainable finance officer at Japan’s Financial Services Agency, spoke with OMFIF about Japan’s approach to sustainable finance and regulatory practice, climate transition finance guidelines, transition bond issuance and preventing greenwashing.Â
 LATEST REPORT Sustainable Policy Institute Journal In the summer edition of the journal, contributors lay out why the ‘S’ in ESG is becoming a priority for investors and why social and human rights issues are taking centre stage.
