ROME, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The government led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday became the longest-serving government in the history of the Italian Republic, reaching 1,413 days in office and surpassing the previous record held by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's second government.
"Today, our government becomes the longest-serving in the history of the Italian Republic," Meloni said on social media, calling the milestone a responsibility and saying political stability enables a country to plan, make decisions and fulfill its commitments.
Meloni, Italy's first woman prime minister, has highlighted employment growth, tax cuts, fiscal discipline and the country's increased international standing as key achievements. The ruling Brothers of Italy (FdI) party said, citing Italian National Institute of Statistics data, that over 1.3 million permanent jobs had been added since her government took office. The Meloni government was sworn in on Oct. 22, 2022, comprising Brothers of Italy, the League and Forza Italia.
Italy has had 68 governments led by 31 prime ministers since the establishment of the republic in 1946, with governments lasting an average of about 14 months. Analysts have attributed the longevity of Meloni's government partly to the cohesion of the ruling coalition and fragmentation of the opposition.
The next parliamentary election due in 2027, Meloni's government will face an electoral test over whether its political stability can translate into tangible economic and social gains and continued voter support. ■