Giorgia Meloni Becomes Italy's Longest-Serving PM Since WWII

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has achieved something politically remarkable, with her government having been in power for 1,413 consecutive days. This is the longest period any government has been in power in the history of the Italian Republic, excluding the Benito Mussolini fascist government, which is notable for a country that has never been known for keeping a government in power for very long periods. Giorgia Meloni took power in October 2022 and has been marking this milestone to demonstrate political stability in light of rising living costs and rivalry from the nationalist right, among other challenges.

Giorgia Meloni Marks the Milestone in Bari

Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party is marking this milestone with a massive rally in Bari, southern Italy. Thousands of people are expected to attend the rally, where she will deliver her speech from a podium overlooking the Adriatic Sea. The rally is being marked with the theme "The most stable government, a stronger Italy," emphasising the core message of her political campaign — stability after decades of changing governments. Italian governments have, on average, lasted for about 14 months over the last eight decades.

Meloni's Increasing Influence in Europe

When Meloni took office, there were worries in Brussels about her political history with post-fascist nationalists in Italy. However, her government did not engage in the conflict with the European Union that many feared it would. Meloni remains committed to supporting Ukraine and has become a key figure on migration, trade and other European issues. Her supporters believe that the strength of her government is increasing Italy's reputation on the world stage. At home, her government can point to a few encouraging signs — in 2026, unemployment was around 5%, the lowest rate since Italy started keeping national records in 2004, her government has kept Italy under its budget requirements for the EU, and it has reduced migrant arrivals from North Africa by boat since 2023.

Challenges Persist in Politics and Economy

Though not everything is favourable, there are several challenges for Meloni's administration. Firstly, voters voted against Meloni's judicial reforms in March, a massive blow to her electoral campaign. Secondly, an issue arose in July when some lawmakers opposed a crucial element of her proposed electoral reforms. Besides this, Italy still suffers from low productivity and stagnant income and has an ageing population, with young people continuing to leave the country in search of better prospects. At the same time, the EU-funded pandemic recovery programme that boosted growth at the start of Meloni's administration is now over.

PM Modi Congratulates Giorgia Meloni

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Meloni on the milestone, calling her a "friend" and noting that the success was an indicator of the faith of Italian citizens. Modi further thanked Meloni for her friendship, which he said helped cement the Special Strategic Partnership between India and Italy.