There was almost nothing else talked about: the executive led by Giorgia Meloni has surpassed the longevity record of the second Berlusconi government, reaching 1,413 days in office.
From Bari, the Prime Minister declared that stability "is not a record to be flaunted, but a prerequisite for planning." Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, speaking on the matter, ruled out an early election day in the spring of 2027, reinforcing the government's intention to reach its natural end, scheduled for autumn of next year. A necessary clarification is in order: overall, the Cavaliere, President Silvio Berlusconi, the inspiration and founder of the center-right, has led four governments, remaining at the helm of the country, all things considered, for nearly a decade.
In other words, even records can be relatively easily interpreted and considered. But, beyond the calculation of "time," are we really sure that the sheer "duration" of a government is in itself a result worthy of display? And above all, are we sure that the much-vaunted "stability" is synonymous with the effectiveness of government action?
Measured in days, the government led by Giorgia Meloni has outlasted one of the several Berlusconi governments, Berlusconi II, but has it also done so in terms of content and concreteness in achieving the government's program? "Longevity" in itself is a relative factor, not at all descriptive in terms of content, and at times not at all comforting or consoling. At times, it can almost be perceived as a sign of "static" or "immobilism," unless accompanied by satisfactory results perceptible in terms of the population's real well-being. It is true that the current situation is particularly complex, especially internationally. But the real problem (for some, a danger averted) of the Meloni government is that none of the major reforms planned, as reported by many, appear to have been achieved.
Gasoline is more expensive, job insecurity, according to popular perception, appears to have increased, reaching retirement age has become a difficult goal to achieve, the healthcare system, still in popular perception, is functioning less well, and the shopping cart is in trouble. The prime ministerial post, the true flagship of the majority, is stuck in the starting blocks; differentiated autonomy has gradually lost interest following the interventions of the Constitutional Court, and the plan to make Rome the capital city seems never to have been discussed. The referendum outcome has further strained relations within the majority. This is not a matter of comparing two government experiences, but the second Berlusconi government, which took office on June 11, 2001, and remained in office until April 23, 2005, if we look closely, was one of the longest-lasting in the history of the Italian Republic. This is not only due to its temporal nature, but rather because, during its mandate, the center-right coalition had the opportunity to approve numerous structural reforms and various laws, more or less acceptable, thus marking its government experience in the unquestionable terms of effectiveness.
Among the many key measures are the so-called Biagi Law, which profoundly reformed the labor market by introducing new forms of flexible and atypical contracts, such as project work, temporary work, and job sharing, with the aim of promoting employment; Law 243/2004, the Maroni Reform, which introduced the so-called "step," raising the minimum age for retirement pensions to 65 for men and 60 for women, or with 40 years of contributions, starting in 2008; and Law 189/2002, better known as the Bossi-Fini Law, which amended previous immigration legislation, strictly linking residence permits to the possession of an active employment contract and introducing immediate expulsion for illegal immigrants. During the second Berlusconi government, the Highway Code was also reformed, introducing the deduction of driving license points for violations. Furthermore, the so-called Martino Law introduced the principle of suspending compulsory military service starting January 1, 2005, transforming the armed forces into an all-professional force. The Tremonti Reform initiated a partial reduction in personal income tax rates, moving to a "no tax area" system and reorganizing tax brackets. Put another way, if stability is the prerequisite for planning, then, today and in this final period leading up to the elections, government action should focus on finding effective measures to contain and, if possible, halt the real impoverishment of families and individuals . This includes adjusting wages, effectively protecting purchasing power through price controls, and providing greater fiscal protection for self-employed workers, especially in these challenging times.
Giuseppina Di Salvatore
