Overview
- In a short video, The Economist says Meloni has completed three years in office, making her Italy’s longest-serving premier in about 15 years and heading the republic’s third-longest government.
- The analysis argues her cabinet has been more moderate than liberal critics feared and says Italy now carries more weight in European diplomacy, with President Trump shown praising her.
- Lockwood recounts her trajectory from joining MSI at 15 to founding Fratelli d’Italia and leading the party to victory in 2022, highlighting sustained political skill.
- He describes a right-of-center coalition that includes Forza Italia and the Lega and suggests allies would likely block radical far-right changes.
- The piece links tempered euroskepticism to Italy securing €194 billion in EU recovery funds and cautions that limited reforms and a 0.7% growth outlook could bite when those funds wane.