The secret to the Italian Prime Minister's success.

A remarkable achievement

On November 12, 2011, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi walked from his residence to the Quirinal Palace to submit his resignation, due to the debt crisis and the collapse of his majority in the government. Accompanying him was the Minister of Youth, 34-year-old Giorgia Meloni, who tearfully tried to persuade him to stay. That day, Meloni realized the meaning of losing power under pressure from the market and European partners, following a risky decision in managing public finances.

Eleven years later, on October 22, 2022, Meloni made a spectacular public debut. At that time, the woman who called herself an "outsider" seemed to possess the ability to "turn everything into gold" in politics, transforming almost every controversy into a new opportunity to consolidate her power.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Photo: Getty

While analysts predicted a rapid crisis upon Meloni's inauguration due to disagreements within the ruling coalition between her Brotherhood of Italy (FdI), Lega, and Forza Italia, the right-wing alliance has, in reality, maintained a level of cohesion and discipline rarely seen in Italian history.

Upon assuming power, Prime Minister Meloni appears to have learned a simple lesson: once in power, flexibility is essential for maintaining it long-term. And she has accomplished what most of her predecessors since World War II have failed to do: hold onto power.

On September 4th, by surpassing 1,413 consecutive days in power, Meloni became the longest-serving prime minister in post-war Italian history, with Berlusconi ranking second. This milestone also solidifies Meloni's unique position in Italian political history, as she is both the country's first female prime minister and the longest-serving head of government.

Secrets to staying in office

What is the secret to Meloni's long tenure? This question is supported by concrete achievements. Upon taking office, Meloni faced an exceptionally dire budget situation, with a state budget deficit of 8.1% and public debt reaching 138.4% of gross domestic product (GDP). Nearly four years later, the head of government has reduced the state budget deficit to 3.1%, while the public debt ratio has stabilized (138.9% in the first half of 2026, making Italy the second most indebted country in the European Union (EU) after Greece: 143.5%).

In its 28-page book titled "A More Stable Government, a Stronger Italy," the FdI party summarized the outstanding achievements of nearly four years in power under leader Meloni. According to the book, the employment rate in Italy reached a record high of 62.9%, while the unemployment rate fell to 5.7%, and youth unemployment was 18.4%. The Italian government also emphasized policies supporting families, reforming personal income tax , and reducing the tax burden on workers. Regarding security, the FdI highlighted the reduction in migration to Italy, the increase in repatriation, and the results in the fight against organized crime. In the areas of health, education, and energy, the ruling party emphasized increased resources for the national health fund, a reduction in school dropout rates, and efforts to strengthen energy security.

During nearly four years in power, Prime Minister Meloni's government has navigated numerous debates with the opposition, the judiciary, allies in the ruling coalition, and the turbulent international situation. The government maintains political stability, controls public finances, and improves several economic indicators as significant achievements.

Professor Fabien Gibault of the University of Bologna (Italy) explains: “By doing the opposite of her very conservative and anti-European agenda, by pursuing a moderate economic path, Meloni has become a neutral figure, bringing stability to the market. The confrontation with Brussels has not happened.”

Franck Iovene, a former AFP correspondent in Italy, added: "Prime Minister Meloni understands that long-term power means not trying to implement her entire program abruptly. She prioritizes, postpones certain reforms, and abandons or adjusts certain commitments when they risk destabilizing the coalition or the economy."

Challenges for the next term

Ahead of the next legislative elections in 2027 to elect 200 senators and 400 members of parliament in Italy, Meloni is facing a growing array of serious problems: rising living costs, tensions within the defense alliance, transatlantic disputes with US President Donald Trump, and increasingly aggressive nationalist right-wing factions...

Italy continues to face structural problems that previous governments have failed to resolve: low productivity, declining population, stagnant wages, and a persistent brain drain.

According to Salvatore Vassallo, a political scientist at the University of Bologna, the EU-funded post-pandemic recovery plan, which helped alleviate difficulties in the early years of Prime Minister Meloni's term, is now nearly exhausted. The growth boost it provided is no longer sufficient to offset an increasingly challenging financial environment, exacerbated by global price shocks. Meloni is also struggling to implement some of the key reforms she promised. In March 2026, voters rejected a judicial reform, marking the first major setback for the Prime Minister...

The biggest political threat today comes from Roberto Vannacci, a former general turned far-right politician, and his newly formed Futuro Nazionale movement. By focusing his campaign on the issue of "resettlement," Vannacci has challenged Meloni's migration policy, questioning its effectiveness at a time when the government intends to present it to voters as a landmark victory.

According to a recent poll, support for Vannacci has reached 7.5%, surpassing Forza Italia and closing in on Lega, whose support has fallen to 5.7%. The FdI remains the leader with nearly 26% of the vote, but the overall lead for Meloni's center-right coalition has narrowed to just a few points. This signals serious difficulties Meloni will face in forming future coalitions.

Therefore, the task ahead for Meloni is still very difficult. In Italy, no prime minister has ever won a second consecutive term. Whether Meloni can reverse this situation and make history remains to be seen.

HUONG GIANG