Meloni says she intends to stay in office until the end of her term

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday she intends to stay in office until the end of the current parliamentary term, dismissing media speculation that she might call early elections ahead of the scheduled vote next autumn. Her government this month became the longest-serving in Italy since World War II.

Meloni leads a conservative coalition made up of her Brothers of Italy party, the League, and Forza Italia. Speaking at a press conference after a cabinet meeting, she said she takes pride in the government's stability and wants to remain in power for as long as she holds a strong, solid majority.

Pressure from a new rival

The statement comes amid a rapid rise in support for National Future, a new far-right movement led by former general Roberto Vannacci, which has eroded backing for Meloni's camp and fueled speculation she might seek early elections to avoid further losses.

Speaking alongside Deputy Prime Ministers Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani, leaders of the League and Forza Italia respectively, Meloni reaffirmed her intention to keep governing as long as the coalition retains its majority.

A bumpier coalition road

In recent months the coalition's path has been far from smooth, suggesting Meloni's once-firm grip on the alliance may be loosening as elections approach. In July, the lower house unexpectedly rejected a government amendment on electoral reform that Meloni strongly backed, after some coalition members sided with the opposition. Shortly before that, the Senate approved a contested electoral law reform amid fierce criticism from the opposition, which accused Meloni of rewriting the rules to boost her re-election chances next year.

Meloni has also previously said she is not prepared to scale back support for Ukraine even if doing so would win her party support from some quarters ahead of the elections.