PM Modi Congratulates Giorgia Meloni on Record Tenure, Highlights Growing India-Italy Partnership
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni after her government crossed a historic milestone, becoming the longest continuously serving administration in Italy’s postwar history.
In a message posted on X, Modi described Meloni’s record tenure as a reflection of the trust and confidence placed in her by the Italian people. He also praised her contribution to strengthening the relationship between India and Italy, particularly the countries’ Special Strategic Partnership.
“Congratulations to my friend Prime Minister Meloni on becoming the longest continuously serving Prime Minister in Italy’s postwar history,” Modi said, adding that the achievement reflected the faith Italian citizens had placed in her leadership.
The Indian Prime Minister also highlighted the close personal and diplomatic ties that have developed between the two leaders.
He said Meloni’s friendship had played an important role in taking the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership forward and expressed his desire to continue working closely with her to create a more prosperous future for the people of both countries.
Meloni breaks postwar longevity record
Meloni’s government has now completed more than 1,413 consecutive days in office, surpassing the previous record of 1,412 uninterrupted days held by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s second government, which remained in power from 2001 to 2005.
The achievement is particularly significant given Italy’s political history. Since the end of World War II, the country has gone through 68 different governments, making long-term political stability relatively uncommon.
Meloni took office in October 2022, becoming Italy’s first woman to serve as prime minister. Her government has since managed to remain in power for a period that has now exceeded every previous postwar administration in terms of uninterrupted tenure.
Meloni thanks Italian voters
Reacting to the milestone, Meloni credited the Italian people for giving her government the mandate that made the record possible.
In her own message on X, she said the stability enjoyed by her government was the result of the trust voters placed in it during the 2022 election. She stressed, however, that this trust should never be treated as something permanent or unconditional.
Meloni said her government had sought to use its time in office to address several domestic and international priorities, including increasing employment, lowering unemployment, supporting families and businesses, strengthening national security and maintaining greater discipline in public finances.
She also pointed to efforts to restore Italy’s influence and credibility on the international stage.
For Meloni, the record was therefore not simply about the number of days her government had remained in office, but also about reflecting on the work already completed and the challenges that remain.
Looking ahead
Meloni said she would meet members of her political organisation, Fratelli d’Italia, in Bari on Friday evening. The gathering would provide an opportunity for the leadership and supporters to review the government’s journey so far and discuss the road ahead.
Her remarks reflected an attempt to link the longevity milestone with the broader political mandate given to her government by Italian voters.
India-Italy ties remain a key focus
For India, Meloni’s continued leadership is also significant because of the growing strategic relationship between New Delhi and Rome.
Modi’s congratulatory message placed particular emphasis on the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership, signalling the importance New Delhi attaches to continued cooperation with Italy.
The relationship between the two countries has expanded across several areas, including trade, investment, technology, defence, energy, education and people-to-people connections.
By describing Meloni as a friend and highlighting her role in strengthening bilateral relations, Modi underlined the increasingly close engagement between the two governments.
Meloni’s record tenure comes at a time when political stability is being closely watched in Italy, a country historically known for frequent changes in government.
For Modi, the milestone was an occasion not only to congratulate the Italian leader but also to reaffirm India’s commitment to maintaining strong cooperation with Italy in the years ahead.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
