Gen Z turning against Meloni? Why young Italians are unhappy ahead of 2027

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is encountering a challenge as younger voters are increasingly distancing themselves from her government ahead of the 2027 national election, according to Reuters' report based on Youtrend polling. With under-35 voters supporting the center-left opposition at nearly 50%, the younger demographic is at the forefront of what promises to be a closely contested election.

Lorenzo Pregliasco, head of Youtrend polling, noted that the youth vote could become decisive if younger Italians cast their ballots in greater numbers than usual. Analysts attribute the growing dissatisfaction among young Italians to a lack of economic reforms addressing the opportunities and challenges faced by this demographic. Since assuming office in 2022, Meloni's government has shown little initiative to implement significant economic reforms to improve the situation of younger Italians.

Political science professor Lorenzo De Sio from Rome’s Luiss University emphasized that the government's lack of substantial economic reforms is a key factor in young people's hostility towards the regime. Italy currently has the lowest employment rate among people aged 15 to 24 in the 21-member euro zone, according to Eurostat data. Additionally, the country invests less in education than most of its euro-zone counterparts.

The wage gap is another concern, with young graduates in Germany earning about 80% more than their Italian counterparts, as reported by the Bank of Italy. Italy is also losing young graduates to other countries, with over 100,000 young graduates leaving the country between 2020 and 2024, as highlighted by the Bank of Italy. These issues have led to Meloni's approval figures among voters under 35 dropping to just 25%, compared to 35% among the general population, as per Youtrend.

The political divide among younger Italians is not straightforward, with gender playing a role in their support. Young men are more likely to back right-wing parties, while young women tend to favor the left, according to a Bocconi University study based on SWG polling data. Brothers of Italy, Meloni's party, commanded a 15% share of the vote among men aged 18 to 29, while the 5-Star Movement secured 18% support from women under 30, as cited by Reuters.

This shift in support is not uniform, with some younger voters gravitating towards the far-right for their dissatisfaction with Meloni's government.