Meloni government sets postwar longevity record as island autonomy questions linger

Giorgia Meloni's hard-right government has surpassed the longevity record set by Silvio Berlusconi between 2001 and 2005, becoming Italy's longest-serving uninterrupted government since World War II, France 24 reported. The government has now been in power for 1,413 days, a remarkable feat in a country that has seen 68 governments in the last 80 years.

When Meloni took office in 2022, many European allies viewed her with unease given her party's neo-fascist roots. Yet she has governed pragmatically, working within EU institutions and even supporting Ukraine, according to France 24's coverage.

The milestone arrives as challenges mount ahead of elections next year. France 24's analysis, featuring Nathalie Tocci of the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome, described Meloni's success as a blend of '50% savvy political tactics, 50% extraordinarily good luck.' The Guardian reported that the rise of far-right leader Roberto Vannacci and his Futuro Nazionale party poses questions about whether Meloni will return to her roots before the vote.

For Sardinia, the longevity record carries particular weight. The island has long pursued greater autonomy within the Italian state, a constitutional arrangement it shares with four other special-status regions. Meloni's government has shown ambivalence toward regional autonomy demands, and the stability of her administration has meant that Sardinia's negotiations with Rome have proceeded under a single, consistent interlocutor — for better or worse.

The island's special autonomy, established in 1948, covers areas including local governance, education and environmental protection. Under previous short-lived governments, Sardinian officials often found themselves renegotiating arrangements with each new administration. Meloni's extended tenure has offered continuity, but critics have noted that stability has not necessarily translated into greater concessions for the island's fragile interior economy.

With elections due next year, the longevity record now becomes a double-edged sword. Vannacci's challenge from the right could push Meloni toward harder positions on regional matters, while the opposition may frame her long tenure as a failure to address the North-South divide that shapes Sardinia's economic prospects. The island's depopulation, driven by young people leaving for mainland cities or abroad, remains a persistent concern that regional leaders argue requires sustained attention from a stable central government.