What's next? Giorgia Meloni to make history as Italy’s longest-serving postwar PM

Rome: Giorgia Meloni’s government will on Friday become the longest-serving administration in Italy’s postwar history, completing 1,413 days in office and surpassing the previous record set by Silvio Berlusconi.

The milestone gives Meloni a significant political achievement to highlight ahead of Italy’s 2027 national election, even as her government faces criticism over economic performance, public services and its failure to deliver some major coalition pledges.

Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy (FdI), became Italy’s first woman prime minister after her coalition won the 2022 election. Her government has remained in power despite Italy’s long history of political instability, with nearly 70 governments formed over the past eight decades.

A record of political stability

Meloni’s administration will have lasted one day longer than Berlusconi’s longest stint in office, reaching 1,413 days on Friday.

The achievement is expected to strengthen Meloni’s image as a stable leader, particularly with FdI continuing to lead opinion polls.

However, analysts caution that political longevity alone may not guarantee another election victory. A justice reform referendum defeat earlier this year raised questions about whether an alternative majority could emerge in the next election.

The referendum setback was especially significant because the reforms were among the coalition’s key promises. Plans to strengthen the prime minister’s powers and expand regional autonomy have also yet to be completed.

Economic gains questioned

Critics argue that Meloni’s strong parliamentary majority has not translated into the structural reforms needed to address Italy’s long-standing economic problems.

Italy’s economy is forecast to grow by just 0.6 per cent in 2026, while real wages have remained broadly stagnant since the early 1990s.

Unemployment has fallen from above 7 per cent to around 5 per cent over the past four years. However, Italy continues to have a large economically inactive population, with many people capable of working but not seeking employment.

Government points to tax cuts and foreign policy

Meloni’s supporters reject the criticism, pointing to tax reductions, increased tax revenues and tighter fiscal management in a country carrying heavy public debt.

They also argue that Italy has gained greater influence internationally under Meloni, particularly within the European Union.

The government has taken a tougher position on migration and pushed energy policy as areas where Rome can play a more influential role in Brussels.

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Election challenge from the right

Despite FdI’s strong position in opinion polls, Meloni’s coalition faces a potential challenge from within the right.

Roberto Vannacci, a former general known for his hardline views on migration and LGBTQ+ issues, has launched the Futuro Nazionale party. It is polling at around 7 per cent and could potentially become a kingmaker after the 2027 election.

Meloni’s coalition also includes Matteo Salvini’s League and the conservative Forza Italia.

Its prospects are helped by divisions within the centre-left opposition and falling voter participation. Turnout was about 64 per cent in the 2022 general election, then dropped below 50 per cent in the 2024 European elections.

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Cost of living remains a major concern

Economic pressures and the state of public services continue to weigh on voters.

Surveys identify the cost of living, healthcare, security and immigration among Italians’ leading concerns. Meloni was also booed at a sporting event in August in Taranto, a southern city struggling with the economic and environmental problems surrounding its giant steel plant.

In Rome’s working-class Tor Bella Monaca district, where Meloni’s party holds political influence, low voter participation reflects broader disillusionment among some residents.

Yet Meloni retains support among voters who believe her government needs more time to deliver results.

The record-breaking tenure therefore gives the prime minister a powerful symbol of stability heading into 2027. Whether that stability translates into a renewed electoral mandate will depend on whether voters believe it has produced meaningful improvements in their daily lives.