Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told reporters on Wednesday that she plans to remain at the head of government until the conclusion of the current legislature, rejecting media reports that she might seek an early election before her term ends next autumn.
Addressing the speculation at a news conference held after a cabinet meeting, Meloni said she takes pride in the continuity her administration has delivered. Earlier this month, her government reached the milestone of becoming Italy's longest-serving administration since World War Two.
Meloni leads a conservative coalition composed of her Brothers of Italy party alongside the League and Forza Italia. At the news conference she spoke alongside Deputy Prime Ministers Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani, who head the League and Forza Italia respectively. She said the government will continue to govern so long as she retains a strong and solid parliamentary majority.
Recent polling has shown support rising for National Future, a new far-right movement led by former general Roberto Vannacci. That shift in public backing has come at the expense of Meloni's coalition and has fuelled speculation about a potential snap election.
The coalition has encountered difficulties in recent months. In July, the lower house voted down a government amendment tied to an electoral reform that Meloni strongly backed. That defeat followed defections within the ruling coalition and underscored strains among coalition partners.
Meloni emphasized the government's determination to continue its work while it commands a solid majority in parliament. Beyond her remarks on longevity, she framed stability as a point of pride for the administration and a condition for carrying forward its agenda.
Context and significance
While Meloni's statement is a straightforward denial of plans for an early ballot, it comes amid shifting voter preferences and demonstrated fragility inside the governing bloc. The combination of polling gains for a rival movement and parliamentary defections highlights uncertainties the coalition must manage as it heads toward the end of the legislature.