How did Italian politics become stable?

Italian politics has achieved a rare period of stability under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose government recently became the longest-serving in the country's post-war history. This shift contrasts with Italy’s traditional parliamentary fragmentation, which historically saw an average government duration of just over a year. Meloni’s rise followed a calculated period of opposition during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing her to consolidate support from 3% to 30%. While she has moderated her rhetoric to embrace "Euro-realism" and secure essential European Union funding, her administration faces challenges in delivering on core campaign pledges like migration control. As the next general election approaches, Meloni’s political longevity and perceived reliability against a divided opposition serve as her primary assets, even as new far-right challengers like Roberto Vannacci threaten to disrupt her coalition's hold on power.