Italy’s Meloni throws party to celebrate record time in power

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is marking a historic milestone as her hard-right government has now been in power for a record-breaking 1,413 days, surpassing even billionaire media mogul Silvio Berlusconi's tenure. The celebration will be marked by a rally in Bari, drawing thousands of supporters, though the event will also draw protests from critics. Italy has experienced 68 governments in the past 80 years, mostly brought down by internal crises and defections, a contrast to Meloni's stable administration.

To commemorate this achievement, Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy (FdI) party has organized an elaborate celebration in the southern region of Puglia, where supporters will be transported via 80 coaches, with the capacity to host up to 10,000 people. During the rally, Meloni will address the crowds and her deputy prime ministers, Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani, will make appearances via video link.

The festivities will be dubbed "Il Governo più stabile, l'Italia più forte" (The Most Stable Government, the Strongest Italy), reflecting the themes of the event.

The government's achievements under Meloni's leadership include over one million new jobs created and a reduction in personal income taxes by 21 billion euros. While some have praised the fiscal stability, critics argue that it hasn't led to growth. However, the celebration won't only be about celebrating successes; it will also serve as an election rally ahead of the 2027 vote.

While the government has passed around 300 laws and decrees, focusing on security threats, there are concerns about the impact on other areas such as job insecurity, wage stagnation, and healthcare effectiveness.

As the party kicks off with traditional Puglian light shows and DJ sets, the government's critics will gather in the historic center of Bari for an anti-government demonstration. The demonstrators accuse the administration of creating a war and weapons economy, a police state, and promoting a climate of hate against migrants. This discontent has even given rise to a challenger not invited to the celebrations, a former general with a party further to the far right than Meloni, who has been gaining ground in the polls.