In the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine resort of Abetone Cutigliano, supporters of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have gathered to celebrate a significant political milestone. On Friday, it was confirmed that Meloni and her party, Brothers of Italy, have established the record for the longest-lasting government in Italy since the end of World War II.
Italy has historically been characterized by political fragility, witnessing 68 different administrations over the past eight decades. While former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi retains the title of the longest-serving premier due to his cumulative time in office across four terms, Meloni’s administration has now exceeded his record of 1,412 consecutive days in power.
The mountain town, a popular destination for skiers, played a crucial role in this achievement by delivering overwhelming support for Meloni’s party during the October 2022 national elections. Andrea Tonarelli, a 35-year-old municipal engineer and councilor for Brothers of Italy, stated that a celebratory event is being held along the coastline to mark the occasion. For local residents unable to attend, gatherings will take place at the party’s local headquarters to watch the rally.
Tonarelli described the milestone as a source of collective pride. “Ten years ago, this result would have been unthinkable,” he said, crediting the party’s ability to engage younger generations. He noted that his own political journey began in 2017, driven by opposition to what he termed the left’s “armchair environmentalism” and a desire for policies that prioritize Italian interests, border security, and traditional heritage.
Grazia Di Maggio, the 31-year-old youngest member of the Chamber of Deputies for Brothers of Italy, characterized the government’s endurance as “profoundly symbolic.” She emphasized that Meloni, as Italy’s first female prime minister from a right-wing background, achieved her position without favoritism, implicitly contrasting her leadership with the totalitarian legacy of Benito Mussolini. Di Maggio, who moved from Basilicata to Milan for university, described Meloni’s success as proof that passion and sacrifice can lead to credible and stable governance.
However, experts caution that longevity does not necessarily equate to health. Paolo Carusi, a lecturer in contemporary history at Roma Tre University, argued that political stability should not be measured solely by a government’s lifespan. He pointed to high voter volatility and a trend of rewarding new parties rather than established ones. Carusi attributed the current administration’s durability to two factors: a 2018 electoral law that facilitated an absolute majority for the right-wing coalition, and Brothers of Italy’s willingness to compromise on key electoral promises to maintain coalition unity.
This compromise may have created openings for rivals. Carusi highlighted the rapid rise of National Future, a new far-right party led by former army general Roberto Vannacci, which has already become the country’s fourth most popular political force just seven months after its launch. In the 2027 general election, Vannacci’s party could position itself as the true defender of right-wing values.
Piero Ignazi, a political scientist at the University of Bologna, suggested that the government’s longevity reflects a period of stasis rather than progress. He cited Italy’s weak economic outlook, with growth projected at just 0.6 percent for 2026, and social policy regressions. Ignazi specifically criticized recent legal reforms that criminalize public dissent and protest, warning that such measures represent a dangerous setback for civil liberties.
Leave a Reply