NEW DELHI: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has achieved a major political milestone, with her government becoming the longest-serving uninterrupted government in the history of the Italian Republic since World War II.

Meloni’s government completed 1,413 consecutive days in office on Friday, surpassing the previous record of 1,412 days held by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s second government, which served from 2001 to 2005.

Meloni, leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d’Italia) party, became Italy’s first woman prime minister after her coalition won the 2022 general election. Her government has remained in office without a change of prime minister or collapse of the governing coalition, a notable achievement in a country that has historically experienced frequent government changes.

A rare period of political stability

Italy has had a reputation for political instability since becoming a republic in 1946. The country has experienced 68 governments and 31 prime ministers over the postwar period, with governments lasting an average of around 14 months. Against this background, Meloni’s uninterrupted tenure represents an exceptional period of political continuity.

Meloni welcomed the achievement but said that stability should not simply be treated as a record. She argued that political stability gives a government the ability to plan, make decisions, fulfil commitments and strengthen the country's standing internationally.

Modi congratulates Meloni

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Meloni on the milestone. He said the achievement reflected the trust and confidence of the Italian people in her leadership.

Modi also highlighted Meloni’s contribution to strengthening the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership and expressed his intention to continue working closely with her to build a prosperous future for the people of both countries.

Record comes with political challenges

Meloni’s long tenure has strengthened her image as a politically durable leader. Her government has maintained a relatively stable coalition and pursued policies focused on areas including immigration, taxation, business and public finances.

However, the government also faces criticism over the pace of structural reforms and economic growth. Analysts have questioned whether political stability has translated into sufficiently strong improvements in areas such as productivity, wages, healthcare and education.

Meloni is also facing political pressure from both the opposition and parties further to the right. The coming period will therefore test whether the stability that has allowed her government to break the postwar longevity record can be converted into broader political and economic achievements.

The milestone nevertheless marks an important moment in modern Italian politics. Meloni’s administration has now surpassed Berlusconi’s previous record and demonstrated an unusually high degree of continuity in a political system historically known for frequent changes of government.