Meloni's government becomes Italy's longest-serving since World War II

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's hard-right coalition government reaches a milestone on Friday, officially becoming the longest-serving government in Italy's postwar history. While this marks a notable achievement, it comes alongside recognition that considerable challenges lie ahead, particularly with elections scheduled for next year.

Expert analysis

Nathalie Tocci, Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome and Professor of Practice at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, offered her assessment of what has kept Meloni's government intact for so long. Speaking to FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney, Tocci summarized the formula behind the record-breaking tenure as roughly half savvy political tactics and half extraordinarily good luck.

In the interview, Tocci discussed the combination of strategic decisions and favorable circumstances that have allowed Meloni to avoid the instability that has historically plagued Italian governments, many of which have collapsed well before completing a full term.

What comes next

Despite the historic record, the durability of Meloni's government is not guaranteed to continue indefinitely. Next year's elections are expected to serve as a major test of whether her coalition can maintain its position, or whether the favorable conditions that have supported it so far will begin to shift.