Giorgia Meloni’s government becomes Italy’s longest-serving since WWII

Main points

• Meloni’s government has set a new longevity record
• It surpassed Silvio Berlusconi’s second government
• Italian governments have typically lasted about 14 months

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has become the country’s longest-serving uninterrupted administration since World War Two, setting a new record in a political system known for frequent changes of government.

Meloni took office on October 22, 2022, becoming Italy’s first female prime minister. On September 4, 2026, her government reached 1,413 days in office, surpassing the 1,412-day record set by Silvio Berlusconi’s second government between 2001 and 2005.

The milestone is notable in Italy, which has had 68 governments since 1946. Reuters calculates that Italian governments have lasted about 14 months on average, although the figure varies depending on how caretaker periods are counted.

Berlusconi still holds another record

While Meloni now leads the longest-lasting single government, Berlusconi remains Italy’s longest-serving prime minister overall. He spent about nine years in office across four separate governments between 1994 and 2011.

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Before Meloni, Berlusconi's second government was the longest at 1,412 days. His fourth government lasted 1,287 days, followed by Bettino Craxi's first government at 1,093 days and Matteo Renzi's government at 1,024 days, according to Reuters.

Italy's Senate records confirm that the Meloni government has been in office continuously since October 22, 2022.

Meloni has presented the longevity of her coalition as evidence of greater political stability. Speaking after reaching the milestone, she said stability allowed Italy to plan and make longer-term decisions. Critics, meanwhile, have disputed the government's broader record and argued that longevity alone is not a measure of policy success.