Giorgia Meloni succeeded in what almost every Italian prime minister since the Second World War has failed to do: stay in power.
On Friday, Meloni’s government hit 1,413 consecutive days in office, becoming the longest-lasting administration in the history of the Italian Republic after Benito Mussolini, Italy’s fascist dictator.
Her party, Brothers of Italy, is turning the milestone into a victory lap.
Thousands of supporters are expected in Bari, in southern Italy, where Meloni will address a rally from a stage overlooking the Adriatic Sea, under the slogan: “The most stable government, a stronger Italy”.
Behind the celebrations and back-slapping, the truth is that Meloni is no longer the political phenomenon who swept into office in October 2022.
Back then, the self-branded “underdog” seemed to have a political Midas touch, turning almost every controversy into another opportunity to strengthen her grip on power.
Now, Meloni faces a growing list of problems. Rising living costs, coalition tensions over defence, a transatlantic spat with Donald Trump, and an increasingly assertive nationalist right as she looks towards the 2027 election.