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

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is celebrating her administration's record-breaking 1,413 days in power with a rally in Bari, expected to attract thousands of supporters. This marks Italy's longest-lasting postwar government, surpassing former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's 1,414-day tenure. Despite internal party crises, Meloni has managed to keep her coalition stable, with 80 coaches transporting supporters to the southern Puglia region for her party's celebration.

The event, dubbed "Il Governo più stabile, l'Italia più forte" (The Most Stable Government, the Strongest Italy), will feature speeches highlighting the government's achievements, such as a 21-billion-euro reduction in personal income taxes and a jump in employment, adding up to over a million new jobs. However, critics argue that these improvements have not translated into actual economic growth or increased wages.

As the festivities get underway, the government faces opposition from anti-government protesters who accuse it of creating a "war and weapons economy" and a "police state," as well as fueling a climate of hate against migrants. This challenge will be further compounded by the rise of a far-right party led by a former general, which now leads in the polls ahead of the 2027 election.