Meloni is Italy's longest-serving head of government
Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni and her government have been in office for just under four years now – longer than any other Italian government in the last 80 years. When she first took power many feared that her party, Fratelli d'Italia, and its post-fascist roots would have a negative impact on the government's work and Italy's role in Europe. Commentators take stock.
Pro-European and pragmatic
El Mundo praises the prime minister:
“Having come to power four years ago with a populist agenda and leading a far-right party, Giorgia Meloni has established herself as a pro-European and pragmatic politician who has brought Italy an unusual degree of stability. In fact, at 1,413 days, her term in office is now the longest in the history of the Italian Republic. ... The flexibility she has shown in allaying initial fears while simultaneously holding together a three-party coalition government can serve as an example for the European far right. ... Meloni's Italy is now a country of considerable clout within the EU and is leading the crucial debate on immigration.”
From problem child to model pupil
The Spectator is also impressed:
“She has brought stability to a country which is a by-word for instability. Global markets now regard the Italian economy as more stable than those of France and Britain. This is a revolutionary turn-around, when you think that, in 2011, at the height of the Euro Crisis the interest rate on Italian bonds shot through the roof and threatened the survival of the Euro itself. ... Her party, Fratelli d'Italia, remains well ahead of other parties in the polls with more support than it got votes at the 2022 general election, ... something virtually unheard of in a western democracy for a party in power.”
Too many compromises, too few reforms
Journalist Maria Spiliopoulou writes in Eleftheros Typos:
“Her critics accuse her of failing to introduce bold reforms to fix the problems in public administration and the health and education systems and to boost low productivity. Roberto Vanacci [founder of the far-right party Futuro Nazionale], who is now polling at 7.5 percent and narrowing the ruling coalition's lead, says that she has made too many compromises in the name of political stability.”