Giorgia Meloni’s Government Sets Italy’s Longest-Lasting Post-WWII Record Ahead of Elections

On Friday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right government becomes the longest-lasting administration in the country’s postwar history, reaching 1,413 days in office. As Rome gears up for national elections in 2027, the milestone highlights unprecedented political stability in a nation notorious for revolving-door cabinets, even as persistent economic hurdles and policy shortfalls fuel voter discontent.

Breaking the Postwar Mold in Rome

For a nation that has seen nearly 70 governments cycle through power over the past 80 years, political longevity is a rare commodity. Giorgia Meloni has officially surpassed the late Silvio Berlusconi, whose fourth and final administration held power for 1,412 days. Reaching this 1,413-day threshold provides a distinct badge of honor for her Brothers of Italy party.

“It is certainly a point of pride,” Marco Osnato, a prominent lawmaker with Meloni’s Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, told the AFP news agency regarding the milestone.

Yet, this historic stretch of uninterrupted governance starkly contrasts with the everyday realities of Italian households. While the ruling coalition commands an ample parliamentary majority, critics argue that the government has primarily focused on political survival rather than attacking chronic systemic weaknesses.

Economic Realities Behind the Political Milestone

Stability at the top has not cured Italy’s sluggish economic engine. Official projections place Italy’s economic growth at a lackluster 0.6% for 2026. At the same time, real wages have remained virtually stagnant since the early 1990s, leaving middle- and lower-income families squeezed by a persistent cost-of-living crisis.

Supporters point out genuine fiscal achievements. The administration has successfully brought discipline to a heavily indebted nation, cut certain taxes, and increased overall tax revenues. Furthermore, proponents argue that Rome has carved out a more assertive role on the global stage during a fraught geopolitical climate.

“When it comes to foreign policy, Italy has never been so central, particularly in Europe,” Marco Osnato noted to AFP, highlighting that Rome has become a driving force in Brussels on migration rules and energy policy.

However, independent experts remain unimpressed by the domestic dividend of these policies. Tito Boeri, an economist at Milan’s Bocconi University, observed that the government has primarily sought to survive by “doing as little as possible.” While unemployment has dropped from above 7% down to around 5% over the past four years, the pool of economically inactive citizens—those capable of working but entirely detached from the labor market—remains stubbornly high.

Key Indicators of Meloni’s Government (2022–2026)

Metric	Status / Data Point
Postwar Record	1,413 days in office (surpassing Silvio Berlusconi)
Projected 2026 GDP Growth	0.6%
Unemployment Rate	Approx. 5% (down from over 7%)
Next National Vote	Scheduled for 2027

Cracks in the Coalition and the 2027 Horizon

Here is why that longevity record might not guarantee electoral safety next year. Lorenzo Pregliasco of the YouTrend polling institute points out that despite the Brothers of Italy consistently topping opinion polls, recent political missteps have complicated the path toward re-election.

Photo: euronews.com

Earlier this year, the government suffered a major defeat over a justice reform referendum. That loss signaled to observers that voters actively recognize an alternative majority to the current ruling coalition. Moreover, the failed referendum was part of a broader trio of flagship promises—alongside strengthening the prime minister’s executive powers and increasing regional autonomy—that have stalled.

Political vulnerability is also emerging from the right flank. Roberto Vannacci, a former general who frequently attacks migrants and LGBTQ+ rights, has launched a new political vehicle named Futuro Nazionale. Polling at around 7%, Vannacci’s movement threatens to bleed vital conservative votes from Meloni’s coalition, potentially positioning his party as an indispensable kingmaker in the 2027 general election.

Disenchantment among the electorate is palpable. Chiara Braga, leader of the centre-left Democratic Party’s parliamentary group, argues that the historical stability “was not capitalised upon” and “did not lead to any significant improvement in people’s living standards or business competitiveness.” Giovanni Orsina, a political scientist at Rome’s Luiss University, notes that voter apathy and anger run deep, reflected in record-low turnouts during recent European and national ballots.

As Italy weighs these results, the underlying question for international investors and European partners is whether endurance alone can substitute for reform. With global economic headwinds gathering force, Meloni faces the ultimate test: converting sheer political survival into lasting national prosperity.