Giorgia Meloni’s government will on Friday become the longest-lasting in Italy’s post-war history — a significant achievement that, however, does not erase serious challenges ahead of next year’s elections.
In a country once synonymous with political instability, Italy’s first female prime minister will have led the same government for 1,413 days — one day longer than the late Silvio Berlusconi in one of his four terms in office. «This is certainly a source of pride», Marco Osnato, a prominent lawmaker from Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, told AFP in commenting on the milestone.
This record is likely to strengthen the prime minister’s position as Italy, which has had nearly 70 governments in the past 80 years, prepares for general elections in 2027, analysts say. With FdI consistently leading in opinion polls, Meloni appears on track to repeat her 2022 election victory.
However, recent events have complicated the path to re-election, noted Lorenzo Pregliasco of the polling institute YouTrend. This year, Meloni’s position was weakened by the defeat in a referendum on judicial reform, which showed that among voters «there may be an alternative majority» to the current ruling coalition, Pregliasco said.
Government’s achievements and criticism
This defeat also called into question the government’s performance. The reform, which envisaged strengthening the prime minister’s powers and expanding regional autonomy, was one of three key coalition pledges that the government has so far failed to deliver. Critics also argue that results in other areas have fallen far short of expectations. According to them, the government, which holds a large parliamentary majority, has failed to address structural problems that many believe are holding Italy back.
«This stability has not been put to good use», said Chiara Braga, head of the parliamentary group of the opposition center-left Democratic Party. «It has not led to any significant improvement in people’s living standards or business competitiveness.»
Italy’s economy is forecast to grow by just 0.6% in 2026, while real wages have barely risen since the early 1990s. The unemployment rate has fallen from over 7% to around 5% in the past four years, but the number of economically inactive people — those who could work but are not looking for a job — remains high.
«This government has primarily sought to survive by doing as little as possible», said Tito Boeri, an economist at Milan’s Bocconi University.
Supporters of the government, however, emphasize that it has cut taxes and increased revenue, maintained fiscal discipline in a country with high public debt, and secured a more prominent role for Italy on the world stage in a complex geopolitical time. «In terms of foreign policy, Italy has never played such an important role, especially in Europe», Osnato said, noting that from tightening migration rules to energy policy, Rome is now seen as a driving force in Brussels.
Challenges and voter sentiment
Politically, Meloni’s coalition risks losing voters to Roberto Vannacci, a former general who regularly criticizes migrants and LGBTQ+ people. His recently formed Futuro Nazionale party is polling at around 7% and could gain a decisive influence in shaping the future coalition next year.
However, support for the ruling alliance, which includes the far-right Lega of Matteo Salvini and the conservative Forza Italia, is bolstered by persistent internal disputes within the center-left opposition and rising voter abstention, analysts say. Turnout in the 2022 election was around 64% — a record low, and in the 2024 European Parliament elections it fell below 50%.
«A significant part of the electorate is truly disappointed and angry», said Giovanni Orsina, a political scientist at Rome’s LUISS University. Italy’s chronic problems have led many to believe that «no one can solve their issues», he added.
In August, Meloni was loudly booed at a sports event in Taranto, a southern city home to a large steel plant facing serious economic and environmental problems, while the government is trying to keep it operational. Polls show that the cost of living, the deterioration of the healthcare system, security, and immigration are among Italians’ top concerns.
Such trends were evident in Tor Bella Monaca, a working-class eastern suburb of Rome, where dilapidated apartment blocks, cash-for-gold shops, and discount stores are located. In this district, where Meloni’s party is in power, voter turnout is regularly among the lowest.
«Nothing has changed in Italy in the 45 years I’ve been on this planet, and nothing will change», said Maurizio, an IT worker who preferred to give only his first name. He sympathizes with Vannacci but will not vote next year, lamenting the lack of a long-term vision for the country.
Others were more optimistic. «People expect to see improvements overnight», said Annamaria, a 67-year-old retiree and supporter of the prime minister, who also declined to give her last name. «It takes time, but things are getting better», she added, noting that, in her view, crime and the number of migrants have recently become less visible.
Source: Euronews
