Meloni’s First Three Years: A Measured Assessment

Here’s a breakdown and analysis of the provided text, focusing on the key themes and observations:

Overall impression:

The text paints a picture of a leader, Giorgia Meloni, who is ambitious, driven, and actively working to shape her government’s narrative and achievements. It highlights her forward-looking perspective, her focus on tangible goals, and her efforts to build international credibility. however, it also acknowledges the challenges, internal frictions, and complexities she faces.

Key Themes and Observations:

Forward-Looking and Goal-Oriented: The opening sentences instantly establish Meloni’s focus on the future and her commitment to continuous improvement (“more than a thousand days,” “indicate direction and work done,” “do more and better”). This suggests a proactive and ambitious leadership style.

Diverse and Ambitious Goals: Her goals are not singular but “declined to the plural.” This includes:
Government Stability: Acknowledging the “physiological frictions” between allies, which is a realistic assessment of coalition governments.
International Credibility: This is a major focus, exemplified by Italy’s firm alliance with Ukraine and the meaningful event of the Pope’s participation in the G7.
Personal Diplomatic Relationships: The text emphasizes her friendships with key international figures like Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump, and how these relationships are leveraged for specific purposes (e.g., journalist liberation).

Navigating Complex international Relations (especially with Trump): The mention of “duties” in relation to Trump suggests a trade or economic policy challenge. The text highlights the “most complex game” being played with him, indicating a delicate balancing act.

Challenges and Controversies: The text doesn’t shy away from difficulties:
Uphill Start: The controversies surrounding the anti-rave decree and the Cutro shipwreck are cited as early challenges.
Migration Strategy: The government’s approach is described as a “battle on repatriations” and the implementation of hotspots in Albania,highlighting a robust and perhaps controversial stance. Policy areas with Friction: Superbonus stop, security (with accusations of being “Manettara and criminal lawyer”), and suburban redevelopment are mentioned as other government flags. Reforms and Economic Growth: The text points to the slow progress on reforms and the difficulty of economic growth due to industrial policy, inflation, and trade threats.
PNRR Challenges: The download of the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) is mentioned as a concern.

Internal Cracks and Personal Life: The text also addresses internal government issues and a significant personal event:
Loss of Ministers and Undersecretaries: This indicates potential instability or departures within the government.
Ongoing Investigation: The mention of Daniela santanchè facing a “standby investigation” suggests ongoing scrutiny.
Personal Separation: The closure of her relationship with Andrea giambruno is presented as a significant personal event that occurred during her “paratrooper” and abroad life.

* Contrasting Achievements and Setbacks: the text balances positive “records” like employment figures with persistent “nightmares” like high debt.

In Summary:

The text offers a multi-faceted portrait of Giorgia Meloni’s leadership. It showcases her determination to project an image of strength, stability, and international relevance. It highlights her strategic use of personal relationships for diplomatic gain. However,it also underscores the inherent difficulties of governing,including internal disagreements,policy challenges,and the ongoing struggle to achieve key economic and reform objectives. The inclusion of her personal life event adds a layer of humanization to the political narrative.

What are the key economic challenges Italy faced under Meloni’s first three years, and how has her government attempted to address them?

Domestic Policy Shifts & The Italian Economy

Giorgia Meloni’s first three years as Italy’s Prime Minister, beginning in October 2022, have been marked by a pragmatic approach that often diverges from the hard-right rhetoric of her Brothers of Italy party. While initially promising radical change, meloni’s government has largely pursued a course of cautious reform, focusing on economic stability and maintaining Italy’s relationship with the European Union.

Key domestic policy areas include:

economic Policy: Meloni inherited an economy grappling with high debt and inflation. Her government has prioritized fiscal responsibility, attempting to balance spending with debt reduction. This has involved navigating complex negotiations with the EU regarding the implementation of the National recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), funded by the NextGenerationEU program.

Immigration: immigration remains a central issue. Meloni’s government has adopted a stricter stance on illegal immigration,focusing on border control and agreements with North African countries to stem the flow of migrants. This has led to increased scrutiny from human rights organizations.

Social Policy: policies impacting families and traditional values have seen some attention,including measures aimed at supporting birth rates and promoting the traditional family structure. However, these have been implemented with a degree of moderation.

Constitutional Reform: A notable undertaking is the proposed constitutional reform aiming to introduce direct election of the Prime Minister.As of July 2025, this reform is progressing thru parliament but is likely to face a referendum, as indicated by recent reports (Tagesschau, 2025). This is a pivotal moment for Italian governance.

Italy’s Foreign policy Under Meloni

Meloni has positioned Italy as a more assertive player on the international stage,while remaining firmly within the transatlantic alliance.

Ukraine: Italy has been a strong supporter of Ukraine following the Russian invasion, providing military and humanitarian aid. Meloni has consistently condemned Russian aggression and advocated for a united European response.

EU Relations: Despite her past Euroscepticism, Meloni has adopted a constructive approach to the EU, recognizing the importance of European cooperation for Italy’s economic and strategic interests.Negotiations surrounding the PNRR are a prime example of this pragmatic engagement.

Mediterranean Focus: Meloni has prioritized strengthening Italy’s relationships with countries in the Mediterranean region, particularly North African nations, focusing on issues such as migration, energy security, and trade.

NATO: Italy remains a committed member of NATO, and Meloni has reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to collective defense.

Economic Performance: A Mixed Bag

Italy’s economic performance under Meloni has been mixed. While the economy has shown some resilience, growth has been modest.

GDP Growth: Italy experienced modest GDP growth in 2023 and early 2024, but concerns remain about long-term economic prospects.

Inflation: Inflation has been a major challenge, although it has begun to ease in recent months. The government has implemented measures to mitigate the impact of rising prices on households and businesses.

public Debt: Italy’s public debt remains one of the highest in Europe, posing a significant constraint on government spending and investment.

Labor Market: The labor market has shown some betterment, with unemployment rates falling slightly. Though, youth unemployment remains a persistent problem.

Challenges and Controversies

Meloni’s government has faced several challenges and controversies during its first three years.

EU Budget Negotiations: Negotiations with the EU over the budget and the implementation of the PNRR have been fraught with difficulty, requiring careful compromise and political maneuvering.

Immigration Policy Criticism: The government’s hardline immigration policies have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and international bodies.

Political Opposition: Meloni faces a fragmented and vocal opposition,which has sought to challenge her government’s policies on a range of issues.

Constitutional Reform Debate: The proposed constitutional reform has sparked a heated debate, with opponents arguing that it could undermine parliamentary democracy.

Sources:

Tagesschau. (2025, July 17). Mehr Macht für Italiens Ministerpräsidentin Meloni.https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/italien-meloni-verfassungsaenderung-100.html