Meloni marks government longevity at Bari rally with 2027 vote in sight
The durability of Meloni’s coalition has been a rarity in postwar Italy, where governments have often fallen before the end of their mandates.
By Greta Ruffino & Euronews
Published on 04/09/2026 - 21:47 GMT+2
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni is celebrating in Bari four years in government, marking the longest-serving government in the history of the Italian Republic.
On 4 September, her government reached 1,413 days in office, becoming the longest-serving single administration in the history of the Italian Republic and surpassing the 1,412-day record set by Silvio Berlusconi's second government.
Speaking to supporters, Meloni presented the longevity record as evidence of the stability and cohesion of her right-wing coalition.
“It is no coincidence that the three longest-serving governments in the history of the Italian Republic are all center-right governments,” she said.
“Stability is our first great reform,” Meloni added, arguing that political continuity had enabled her government to pursue economic and foreign policy goals that might have proved difficult under Italy’s traditionally short-lived administrations.
Meloni claims successes and prepares for the 2027 elections
In Bari, Meloni touted several achievements, from the government's longevity to the results of its reforms, in a speech that laid the groundwork for the campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
"The most stable government is not necessarily the most capable one. The most stable government is simply the one that has had more time than others to be judged."
According to the latest YouTrend poll, published on 4 September, Brothers of Italy stands at 26.5% in voting intentions. In the 2022 elections, the party won 26.04% of the vote.
Among the issues addressed by the premier were justice and security. Meloni promised to build more prisons "to ensure that sentences are carried out."
"We will never solve overcrowding through pardons and amnesties," she added.
The Italian premier also reiterated that the government would continue working on justice reform despite its defeat in the 2026 referendum, in which around 54% voted against a constitutional overhaul that would have separated the career paths of judges and prosecutors and reformed the judiciary's self-governing system.
"Despite the missed opportunity of constitutional reform, we continue to work, for example, on the right to a fair trial. We will not give up on providing answers," Meloni said.
In one of the most personal moments of the speech, Meloni reflected on the challenges of governing and fighting resistance to change.
“There were days when it felt like I was swimming through glue, but I never gave up and I do not intend to start now,” she said, prompting chants of “Giorgia, Giorgia.”
Opposition questions Meloni government's record
Critics argue that Italy's longstanding problems, including weak productivity growth, low wages and inefficiencies in public services, remain largely unresolved.
As Meloni's government marks its longevity record, the political focus is shifting from whether it can survive to whether voters believe it has delivered enough to deserve another term.
Opposition leaders say the government has yet to find concrete ways to boost long-term economic growth beyond keeping public debt and deficits under control.
They also accuse Meloni's coalition of further cutting funding for healthcare and education.