Yesterday Hillary Clinton was in Venice, taking in the city’s film festival — and telling Italian media about the antidemocratic dangers around the world. Interviewed for the country’s leading daily, Il Corriere della Sera, she spoke of the “very powerful forces” who threaten democracy, from Russian cyberattacks to Donald Trump–style demagogy.

With Italy due to hold its general election on September 25, the former secretary of state was also drawn to comment on this country’s politics. Currently, polls are led by Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia, part of a right-wing coalition widely expected to secure a majority of seats. With her own party backed by around one-quarter of voters, Meloni looks likely to become prime minister. Showing the success of recent efforts to mainstream Meloni’s image, Clinton commented:

The election of the first woman prime minister in a country always represents a break with the past, and that is certainly a good thing. But then, as with any leader, woman or man, she must be judged by what she does. I never agreed with Margaret Thatcher, but I admired her determination. Clearly, then you vote on ideas.