Giorgia Meloni Marks Historic Milestone as Italy's Longest-Serving Modern Leader Amid Political Challenges

Giorgia Meloni has officially become Italy's longest-serving Prime Minister since the nation became a republic in 1946, reaching the milestone as she launches her campaign for next year's elections. Having been sworn in 1,413 days ago, she surpassed the previous record held by Silvio Berlusconi's longest-serving government in the early 2000s, navigating a country historically plagued by political instability where previous governments lasted barely a year on average.

Reflecting on her tenure, Ms Meloni recalled the initial skepticism she faced when taking power. Her Brothers of Italy party remains the country's most popular political force and is celebrating the achievement with a rally in the southern city of Bari on Friday. International leaders, including UAE President Sheikh Mohamed, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and British Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch, extended their congratulations, praising her resilience and leadership.

Throughout her time in office, Ms Meloni has navigated complex geopolitical dynamics, including her support for Ukraine, opposition to dragging Europe into the US-Iran war, and the suspension of a defence agreement with Israel due to the Middle East conflict. Her hardline migration policies involved controversial deals with Albania and Libya, while her administration also expanded visas for overseas workers to counter labor shortages.

Despite these milestones, Ms Meloni faces rising political and economic hurdles. Critics point to Italy's sluggish economic growth and a rising public debt ratio as signs of neglected domestic economic issues. Meanwhile, the far-right Futuro Nazionale party, led by former army general Roberto Vannacci, has gained momentum in recent polls, overtaking the co-centre-right party Forza Italia. As the political landscape shifts ahead of next year's elections, Ms Meloni continues to push for electoral reform aimed at ensuring future government stability.