Giorgia Meloni’s government has reached a milestone in Italy’s postwar political history: after 1,413 days in office, it has become the longest continuously serving government of the Italian Republic.
Meloni took office on October 22, 2022, becoming the first woman to lead an Italian government. Her administration has now surpassed Silvio Berlusconi’s second government, which remained in office for 1,412 days between 2001 and 2005.
The record stands out against Italy’s history of frequent government changes. Since the Republic was established in 1946, the country has had 68 governments led by 31 different prime ministers. Over those 80 years, an Italian government has lasted approximately 14 months on average, although the figure varies depending on whether caretaker periods are included.
Before Meloni, only four governments had exceeded 1,000 days: Berlusconi II at 1,412, Berlusconi IV at 1,287, Bettino Craxi’s first government at 1,093 and Matteo Renzi’s at 1,024. At the other extreme, Amintore Fanfani’s first government lasted just 22 days in 1954.
Government turnover, however, has not always meant equally short legislatures. Nine of Italy’s 18 completed postwar legislatures lasted approximately their full five-year term, while another five lasted four years.
The European comparison is also notable. When Meloni entered Palazzo Chigi, Liz Truss was British prime minister, Olaf Scholz was German chancellor and Mark Rutte headed the Dutch government. Since October 2022, the United Kingdom has had four prime ministers in office, France five, Germany two chancellors and Austria three. The Netherlands has had three prime ministers, Latvia three, while Poland and Slovakia have each had two. Portugal also changed prime minister.
Sweden offers a contrasting case: Ulf Kristersson’s government took office just four days before Meloni’s and has also remained in place.
Meloni’s longevity does not make her Italy’s longest-serving prime minister overall. Berlusconi still holds that distinction, having headed four separate governments for a combined total of roughly nine years.
Nor has an Italian government ever remained unchanged for an entire five-year parliamentary term. The current legislature is scheduled to end in 2027. If Meloni’s government remains in office until then, it would establish another first in the history of the Italian Republic.
