Today, 22 October 2024, we celebrate the second anniversary of the government led by Giorgia Meloni, an executive that marked a historic turning point for Italy, not only for being the first to be led by a woman, but also for the significant results achieved during this intense period. The document summarising the ‘two years of government’ highlights a path characterised by the will to respect the programme with which the centre-right coalition presented itself to the Italians in 2022, winning a clear and solid trust.
In these two years, Italy has taken on a new and central role at the international level, regaining a leading role both in Europe and in the rest of the world. The Meloni government has focused on a strategy based on coherence and pragmatism, tackling complex challenges such as the energy crisis, geopolitical tensions and the need to relaunch a national economy that has emerged from years of uncertainty.
From an economic perspective, the numbers speak for themselves. Italy recorded record levels of employment, with over 24 million active workers and an unemployment rate at an all-time low. Labour market reforms, including measures such as hiring incentives and the elimination of the Citizenship Income, have reduced precariousness and increased employment stability. Even Southern Italy, traditionally one of the most fragile areas in the country, has benefited from record investments, exceeding the national average in terms of economic growth.
Italy also saw an improvement in its public finances, with the spread falling to an all-time low. This figure not only provides respite for public accounts, but is also a clear sign of the confidence that international markets have in the country’s economic stability. The reduction in the spread is not just a technical fact, but reflects a change in climate that had been missing for years, especially during previous governments, which often lacked a long-term vision.
In addition to its economic achievements, Italy has resumed a leading role on the international scene. The Meloni government’s foreign policy has focused on strengthening ties with the Mediterranean and Africa, promoting fairer cooperation through the ‘Mattei Plan’, aimed at creating a strategic partnership that looks towards mutual development. This vision has led Italy to reaffirm its position within NATO and the European Union, maintaining a strategic balance with global powers such as China and the United States.
On the domestic front, the government has initiated important tax and judicial reforms, with the aim of simplifying the relationship between the State and citizens, reducing the tax burden on families and businesses, and speeding up the judicial system. These reforms are designed to make Italy more competitive, promoting economic development and ensuring greater social equity.
Despite these results, the reaction of the opposition has been anything but constructive. The Left, which has governed for years without succeeding in reversing a stagnant economic course, today finds itself having to reckon with figures that testify to an objective improvement. Contesting such obvious numbers risks further isolating the oppositions, distancing them from the real needs of the country. Continuing along this line of purely strategic criticism seems a short-sighted choice, especially in the face of a reality that looks very different from that of just a few years ago.
Italian politics has often suffered from broken promises, but the Meloni government seems to have reversed this trend. This time, in fact, the facts are preceding the narrative. Opponents, still tied to old patterns, continue to underestimate the change taking place. The real challenge now is to transform these initial successes into a long-term project that will guarantee lasting and sustainable growth for Italy. But, looking at the results to date, it is clear that the direction taken is the right one.
Having completed this first two-year period, the Meloni government is showing all the signs of health that will allow it to continue working with the same determination, so that the progress made is not just temporary, but can be consolidated into a new phase of prosperity for the country.
