Meloni: de estabilidad política a reforma estructural

In the past four years of political stability, Italy has demonstrated its ability to sustain a government. Now, the opportunity lies in transforming that stability into structural reforms that reduce administrative complexity and bolster long-term growth. Italy has achieved something rare in recent political history: a government that has endured.

The current opportunity is to leverage this stability to strengthen the state's ability to act. On September 3rd, after 1,413 days in power, Giorgia Meloni's government became the longest-serving uninterrupted executive in Italy since World War II, a significant accomplishment in a historically volatile political system. Meloni has maintained her coalition together, calmed markets, and solidified her reputation as a European leader with international credibility.

Her government has also added over a million additional jobs, maintained an unemployment rate below 6%, implemented greater budgetary discipline, and significantly reduced irregular migrant arrivals. Collectively, these are substantial achievements. However, political stability is more than a mere achievement; it provides the foundation upon which longer-term reforms can be built.

From this perspective, Meloni's next stage of assessment will be determined by her ability to turn political stability into structural transformation. The Italian economy continues to face long-term conditions. GDP grew by 0.5% in 2025. The IMF forecasts similar modest growth for 2026 and 2027, estimating the country's medium-term growth potential to be around 0.6%.

Productivity remains notably weak, public debt stood at around 137% of GDP at the end of 2025, and an aging population continues to limit economic prospects. These conditions are far from the current government's influence and are inherently structural. Why has it been so difficult to undertake structural transformation, even during an unusually stable political period?

Part of the answer lies in the nature of the administrative system. Italy is a solid democracy, yet its economic and administrative life is conditioned by a dense procedural culture: an accumulation of rules, exceptions, permissions, and overlapping competencies that survive government changes. The difficulty is systemic, not intentional.

It arises from the frequent overlap of jurisdictions and procedures among institutions. A single investment may have to pass through multiple institutions, each with partial competencies, as responsibility for achieving the final result becomes diluted. The question is thus less about individual performance and more about institutional incentives.

An official may face greater personal or legal risk by authorizing a controversial decision than by delaying it. Ministries and regions must protect their legitimate competencies, while some municipalities lack the technical expertise or personnel needed to effectively execute national programs. Attempts to address administrative complexity have sometimes resorted to additional legislation, which can inadvertently create new procedural layers.

Consequently, simplification is more effective when it reduces the number of required procedures and clarifies who bears ultimate responsibility for each decision. The magnitude of the challenge can be measured: the European Commission reported in June that 41% of Italian businesses were dissatisfied with administration, the highest proportion in the EU.

69% of Italian SMEs identified regulation and administrative burdens as significant obstacles. 83% of companies employ personnel specifically dedicated to regulatory compliance. Civil and commercial proceedings remain among the longest in Europe. The accumulated burden represents a significant economic cost. Italy's national regulatory framework generally compares to the OECD average.

However, difficulties arise during application, particularly when competencies move to regional and municipal levels. The challenge for Italy is not merely the volume of regulation but also its clarity, coherence, and accountability in application. Administrative and compliance costs do not affect all businesses equally. Large corporations can hire lawyers and consultants, and have specialized departments to navigate complex procedures.

Smaller enterprises have fewer resources and consequently face greater challenges in growth. When administrative costs discourage business growth, investment, and innovation suffer. Reduced productivity also limits wages and growth, making it even harder to adopt new reforms. The Meloni government has already made significant progress.

Over 260 procedures have been simplified or digitized under the recovery plan. The Single Special Economic Zone for Southern Italy reduced the average time for investment permits from over 98 days to less than 54. By the end of 2025, Italy had completed nearly three-quarters of its recovery plan milestones and received about three-quarters of the available 194,400 million euros.

The OECD notes genuine advances in public administration, justice, and the business environment. These results demonstrate that specific reforms can work. The next task is to extend these advances.