Meloni government


The Meloni government is the 68th and current government of the Italian Republic, the first headed by Giorgia Meloni, leader of Brothers of Italy, who is also the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister of Italy. The government was sworn in on 22 October 2022. It was one of the fastest government formations in the history of the Italian Republic. It was variously described as a shift to the political right, as well as the first far-right-led coalition in Italy since World War II.

History

Government formation

Immediately after the first meeting of the Italian Parliament's new legislature, tensions began to grow within the centre-right coalition. On 13 October, Silvio Berlusconi refused to support Ignazio La Russa, a politician with a neo-fascist background who was the Brothers of Italy candidate to be [President of the Senate of the Republic (Italy)|Senate of the Republic (Italy)|President of the Senate of the Republic]. However, La Russa succeeded in being elected by obtaining 116 votes out of 206 in the first round, thanks to the support from opposition parties to the centre-right coalition. Tensions further grew, in particular between Berlusconi and Giorgia Meloni, whom Berlusconi described as "patronising, overbearing, arrogant" and "offensive" in a series of written notes in the Senate. In the following days, after meetings between parties' leader, tensions loosened and the centre-right coalition parties reached an agreement on the formation of the new cabinet. Berlusconi also complained about the treatment that Forza Italia received, because he wanted 7 ministries and not 4, but Meloni laughed in his face and granted him only one more ministry.
On 20 October, consultations between President Sergio Mattarella and parties officially began. On the following day, delegates from FdI, the Lega, whose member Lorenzo Fontana had been elected [President of the Chamber of Deputies (Italy)|Chamber of Deputies (Italy)|President of the Chamber of Deputies] on 14 October), Forza Italia, and the group of Civics of Italy–Us Moderates–MAIE told Mattarella they had reached an agreement to form a coalition government with Meloni as prime minister. In the afternoon, Mattarella summoned Meloni to the Quirinal Palace, asking her to form a new government. Meloni accepted the task, and on the same day assembled a cabinet, which was officially sworn in on 22 October, becoming the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister of Italy. The government successfully won the confidence vote, held in late October, with a comfortable majority in both houses.
On 25 October, Meloni gave her first official speech as Prime Minister in front of the Chamber of Deputies, before the confidence vote on her government. During her speech, she stressed the weight of being the first woman to serve as head of the Italian government. Meloni thanked several Italian women, including Tina Anselmi, Samantha Cristoforetti, Grazia Deledda, Oriana Fallaci, Nilde Iotti, Rita Levi-Montalcini, and Maria Montessori, who she said, "with the boards of their own examples, built the ladder that today allows me to climb and break the heavy glass ceiling placed over our heads." On 31 October, the government nominated its deputy ministers and undersecretaries. Galeazzo Bignami, one of the chosen deputy ministers, caused controversy and garnered international attention as a 2005 photo of him with a Nazi armband became public.

Domestic policies

Meloni's government first decree law was related to the ergastolo ostativo, the prison regime that excludes the perpetrators of violent crimes, in particular those related to the mafia and terrorism, from receiving benefits in prison unless they collaborate with the justice system, which are known as collaboratori di giustizia. In 2021, the Constitutional Court of Italy held that this was unconstitutional, and this decree law was previously approved in the Chamber on 31 March 2022 but did not make it to the Senate due to the snap elections. One of the first measures implemented by the government regarded COVID-19 and concerned the complete removal of the COVID-19 vaccination certificate, known in Italy as the Green Pass; moreover, the non-vaccinated doctors were re-integrated into service. Another policy deemed of priority by the new right-wing government is raising the cash ceiling, which critics argue it favours tax evasion and unreported employment, while its proponents including Meloni reject this; a poll by Izi showed that 6 out of 10 right-wing voters agreed that such a law would favour unreported employment.

Decree on protests and rallies

On 31 October 2022, the government approved a decree providing for a penalty of up to six years of imprisonment for illegal parties and rallies. This came amid anti-fascist protests at La Sapienza University, which were subject of criticism due to the police's response, and a rally in Predappio, where Benito Mussolini is buried, to commemorate the centenary of the March on Rome that led to the takeover of Mussolini and Italian fascism of the government. Despite being officially presented as a decree against illegal rave parties, the law was applicable to any gathering over 50 people that the public authority deemed dangerous, which garnered criticism, including from jurist Vitalba Azzolini. The decree also caused protests from opposition parties and civil rights associations; according to Amnesty International, the decree "risked undermining the right to peaceful protest", while Giuseppe Conte of the Five Star Movement compared it to a police state. The law was also contested by FI, which asked for changes, including the reduction of sentences to four years, while it was mainly supported by FdI and Lega, and FdI's justice minister Carlo Nordio was reportedly upset by the law.

Cultured meat ban

In March 2023, Italy's Meloni government approved a draft bill banning the production and commercialization of cultured meat for human and animal consumption; this move, which the government said was intended to protect food heritage.
Italy became the first country to ban cultured meat in November 2023, when the government approved the bill.

Foreign ban on surrogacys

On 16 October 2024, The Senate voted 84-58 in favor of extending a ban on surrogacy to couples who go abroad to avail of the procedure.

Autonomy

On 23 January 2024, the bill about "differentiated autonomy" was approved in the Senate, and it was then approved by the Chamber on 19 June. The law was criticised by the opposition and by various deputies and presidents of southern Italy, accusing the government of wanting to abandon the southern regions, favoring those of the north, and on 20 July a collection of signatures began to call an abrogative referendum.

Immigration

On 24 January 2024, the Chamber of Deputies approves the ratification of the protocol of understanding with Albania, already approved by the Council of Ministers on 5 December and, even earlier, signed on 6 November, on the management of migration flows. The ratification will then be approved by the Senate on 15 February.
On 22 May 2024, the Government, through Minister Matteo Piantedosi and in agreement with the Slovenian and Croatian authorities, implements a further six-month extension to the suspension of the Schengen Convention on the border with Slovenia, until 19 December; The previous five-month extension had been approved on 18 January.
The government issued over 450,000 permits to migrants between 2023 and 2025. In July 2025, it was reported that the government will issue nearly half a million or 500,000 visas for non-EU nationals from 2026 to 2028.

Law and Order

On 15 June 2023, the Council of Ministers approved, on the proposal of Minister Nordio, a bill on justice, which abolished the crime of abuse of office and redesigned the appeal procedures in the first instance initiated by prosecutors against acquittals,  as well as the use and dissemination of wiretapping. The bill was then be approved by the Senate on 13 February 2024, and then by the Chamber of Deputies on 10 July.
On 7 August, a change was also made to the crime of Undue Allocation of Money or Movable Property, implemented io replace the abolished abuse of office, together with some minor corrections, in order to allow the promulgation of the previous "Nordio Bill", which had remained suspended until then due to some perplexities of the Presidency of the Republic.
On 18 September 2024, the Chamber of Deputies approved the "Safety Bill", which covered many subjects: terrorism; scams; protection of law enforcement; banning cannabis ; imprisonment for those who illegally occupy a property; increase in penalties in case of protest in prison; the need for a residence permit to buy a SIM card; possible imprisonment for those implementing road or railway blockades.
Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi confirmed that the rule about blockades could be applied in some strike cases. The bill was heavily criticised by the oppositions, which labelled it as "liberticidal": in particular, the "anti-Salis rule" and the "anti-Gandhi rule" were criticised, the first one because it aggravated the situation of people who had no home to stay, the second one because it could also prevent peaceful protests.
The Lega's request to evaluate the possibility of using chemical castration on those convicted of sexual violence was also accepted.
The government has also proposed, within the security bill, the expansion of the powers of the secret services, and the obligation for universities and public research bodies to collaborate with the secret services, including communicating private information; both of these proposals have been harshly criticised: the first because in Italy the secret services, during the Years of Lead between 1960s and 1980s, were involved in illicit activities and massacres during the Strategy of Tension, and the second because it would represent an authoritarian turn on universities, with the risk of violating the privacy and communicating the political opinions of students, professors and researchers.
On 4 April 2025, the government approved a decree-law that almost entirely follows the previous security bill, which had been sent back to the Chamber due to the lack of financial coverage and doubts raised by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, in order to speed up the approval process.

Healthcare

Italy's healthcare system is organised in the framework of the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, a broad public system encompassing institutions ranging from the Ministry of Health to medical service providers at the regional level. Citizens of Italy are universally eligible to the services of the SSN, receiving care for either free or low cost. During the COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated Italy, the SSN's shortcomings regarding the fragmentation and uneven administrative capacities became more evident, serving as a ground for opposition parties, such as FdI, to criticise such weaknesses. Due to the regional fragmentation, the allocation of resources is inefficient, standardises protocols are not feasible and research is hindered.
In 2024, the Meloni government formulated and enacted a new decree, proceeding towards the centralised coordination of the Italian healthcare system. The law introduced a national system for monitoring waiting lists, while also supporting the cooperation of the public and private sector in healthcare, including the practice of intramoenia. The legislation proposal also aimed to expand personnel and give certain tax cuts to healthcare workers. Moreover, the government put emphasis on the need to tackle the shortage of nurses and non-medical specialists with increased allocation of investments.
The Meloni government promised that the health fund will reach €136.5 billion in 2025 and €140 billion in 2026. Critics argue that the healthcare spending undertaken by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, was not delivered. They claim that rather a fraction of the initially announced budget was provided for the fund, while Meloni spoke of it as a record level in healthcare spending. Unsatisfied with the 2025 budget proposal, healthcare workers went on strike in November 2024. Furthermore, as the problem of long waiting lists persists, many citizens turn their backs on prescribed treatments and enraged by the situation, there is an increase in the reported aggressive acts against medical staff.

Labour market regulation and safety

On 4 May 2023, on the proposal of Minister of Labour and Social Policies Marina Elvira Calderone, the government approved a decree called Decreto Lavoro introducing new measures concerning work contracts and unemployment benefits. The decree, later converted into Law n. 85 on 3 July 2023, makes substantial changes to the fixed term contract laws, allowing temporary employment agreements longer than 12 months only in specific conditions such as replacements of other workers or needs required by collective bargaining. It also simplified employers' disclosure requirements and introduced benefits for hiring people under 30, specifically providing a tax incentive equal to 60% of the gross monthly remuneration for a period of 12 months for employers who hire young people registered in the program, and for hiring beneficiaries, for which a total exemption from social security contributions is guaranteed.
Finally, the decree strengthened health and safety regulations, revising Italy's Consolidated Act on Health and Safety in the Workplace and, specifically under Article 18, extended compulsory INAIL insurance coverage to students and teaching staff involved in vocational training and PCTO.
The "Decreto Lavoro" sparked significant debate among political parties, trade unions, and economic institutions. The major Italian trade unions and the opposition parties criticised the relaxation of rules on fixed-term contracts, claiming that it would increase job insecurity without solving structural employment issues. On the other hand, business associations such as Confindustria welcomed the greater flexibility and the reduction of the tax wedge, although they considered the cuts insufficient to fully relaunch competitiveness in economy.

Welfare reform

The decree also reformed the social safety net, replacing the old Reddito di Cittadinanza with two new instruments of poverty alleviation and unemployment support: the Inclusion Allowance and the . ADI, effective since 1 January 2024, is reserved for households containing members who are minors, persons with disabilities, individuals over the age of 60, or those in disadvantaged conditions certified by public social services. Eligibility is subject to a residency requirement of five years and an threshold of €9,360. The other new income support became operational on 1 September 2023 and targets "employable" individuals between the ages of 18 and 59 who do not qualify for the Inclusion Allowance and have an ISEE not exceeding €6,000. Unlike the household-based ADI, the SFL is a personal benefit providing €350 per month for a maximum non-renewable duration of 12 months. The payment is strictly conditional on the beneficiary's active participation in training, qualification, or labour activation programs managed through the new Information System for Social and Work Inclusion.
Tthe Bank of Italy provided a technical analysis of the transition from the Reddito di Cittadinanza to the new ADI/SFL system. In a hearing before the Parliament the Bank noted that while the reform strengthens incentives to work, the stricter eligibility criteria for the Inclusion Allowance could leave a significant portion of households previously covered by the Reddito di Cittadinanza without support, particularly those who are poor but theoretically "employable".

Foreign policy

European Union

While Giorgia Meloni and Antonio Tajani expressed pro-European positions, Meloni has also been described as anti-federalist and nationalist; this claim has been supported also by other European leaders such as Victor Orban, who said he and Meloni are "patriots" and that they want less power for the EU. Matteo Salvini has been critical of the European Union in many ways, blaming the EU economic policies and bureaucracy instead of Trump's tariffs, disagreeing with Tajani on the formation of a European army, mocking French president Emmanuel Macron, and stating that he doesn't want an "European superstate".
The entire government has been more united on some criticisms of the EU, such as the European Green Deal and the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, which accused Italian police of racial profiling, with particular regard to Roma people and people of African origin.

US, Trump, and NATO

Meloni and her government have been described as Atlanticists, something that she herself also claims, and that they worked to keep Europe and the United States united. This pro-US position was also supported by Forza Italia and by the foreign minister Tajani. Lega's leader, Matteo Salvini, has taken a pro-Trump position, celebrating his victory in the 2024 presidential election; wanting to imitate him in leaving the WHO; supporting his work in the Gaza War; suggesting that he should receive the Nobel Peace Prize; and defending the US sanctions, also considering them an opportunity for Italy.
After Trump's statements about wanting Greenland, Meloni criticised the threat of tariffs on European countries that do not agree with the will of the USA, adding that she does not believe the US will attack the island and that there is a need for a strong NATO presence in the Arctic, and that she does not exclude an Italian presence on Greenland, but that it should be discussed with NATO. Salvini welcomed Trump's threat of a 200% tariff on French wines, saying it would be good for italian wines. Claudio Borghi, a Lega's senator, also expressed his appreciation for asymmetric tariffs, including those on wine, reiterating that they represent an opportunity; Borghi also stated that Greenland's utility "right now is only cod fishing" and that it can be left to Trump, and that he believes that Trump is interested in the island only because "he sees it big on the map".

Russia and Ukraine

Giorgia Meloni criticised Russian aggression and supported the Ukrainian resistance, even with weapons, but always opposed the deployment of Italian troops. While Tajani has fully supported this strategy, the former leader of Forza Italia, Silvio Berlusconi, had been criticised for his closeness to Putin even during the war, despite later retracting various statements on him. Matteo Salvini and the Lega, on the contrary, have always been skeptical on support for Ukraine, criticising the sending of money and weapons. Salvini also accepted Putin's victory in 2024 Russian presidential elections, even if both the United States and the European Union said that the elections were neither free nor fair.

Israel and Palestine

The Italian government has declared its support for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, and criticised human rights violations and the establishment of new settlements in the West Bank, but it also criticised the recognition of the state of Palestine by other European countries, stating instead that this can only happen when all the hostages will be freed and Hamas will no longer be in control of Gaza, and with a clear definition of the borders.
The government criticised the Global Sumud Flotilla, calling it irresponsible, and stating that "there is no need to risk one's safety by entering a war zone to deliver aid to Gaza that the Italian government could have delivered in a few hours". Giorgia Meloni also stated that Italian activists' aim wasn't helping the people of Gaza, but attacking the Italian government. The government then sent two frigates to protect the Italian citizens part of the Flotilla, but withdrew them 150 miles away from Gaza. Questioned about the blockade of the Gaza Strip imposed by Israel, Tajani said that he believed it to be a violation of law, but that "what international law says is valid only up to a certain point".
While Meloni has not openly criticised or supported the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu, she stated that there can be no equivalence between "the responsibilities of the State of Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas", Foreign Minister Tajani said they will evaluate what to do, the president of the senators Maurizio Gasparri took a stand against the sentence, the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto said he disapproved the sentence but that it must be applied, and Matteo Salvini called it an "absurd request" and a "pro-Islamic political sentence", later stating that Netanyahu would be welcome and that "the war criminals are others". Despite Netanyahu's several flights over Italy, the government has never called for his arrest, a move criticised by the opposition and Amnesty International.
Antonio Tajani, Guido Crosetto and Giorgia Meloni said that the Government suspended new arms shipments to Israel after 7 October 2023, but existing contracts remained active.

Venezuela

The Italian government has not recognised Nicolás Maduro as president of Venezuela, following electoral fraud in the 2024 elections.
After the United States strikes on Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro, Tajani said that Italy supports Venezuelan people, and the government stated that military actions aren't the way to end "totalitarian regimes", but that it considers a defensive intervention "against hybrid attacks on its own security" legitimate, as in the case of "state entities that support and promote drug trafficking".

Reception and criticism

Human rights

On 17 December 2025, Amnesty International published a sixty-page analysis named Il governo Meloni al giro di boa. The report claims that after 3 years in Italy there has been a sharp setback in the protection of human rights, throught laws and policies that "restrained civic spaces, eroded freedoms of expression and association, and targeted solidarity organizations and marginalized identities". In particular, Amnesty International criticised the Ddl Sicurezza, the excessive use of security forces, the hostility towards the national and international judiciary, the release of Usāma al-Maṣrī Nağīm, the CPRs in Albania and the blocking and postponement of the vote for the introduction of the principle of consent in the crime of rape.

Austerity

The Meloni government has been accused of doing austerity policies, in particular with the 2026 budget law, which the government and the Minister of Economy Giorgetti deny. The main criticisms concerned the limited expenditure of the law in order to exit the EU infringement procedure for excessive deficits, healthcare and welfare, the non-payment of arrears to workers in case of compliance with the standards of certain collective agreements, the increase in fuel taxes, and specific increases in the retirement age, which was also opposed by the Lega.

Israel and International Law

Regarding the Global Sumud Flottilla's travel to Gaza, questioned about the blockade of the Gaza Strip imposed by Israel, Tajani said that he believed it to be a violation of law, but that "what international law says is valid only up to a certain point". This statement was strongly criticised by the president of the Italian Society of International Law and European Union Law himself, who said he felt deeply embarrassed while hearing that sentence, which was "unacceptable" because it was in open conflict with the constitution and hadn't been made in an official statement or document.

Party breakdown

Beginning of term

Ministers and other members

Current

Ministers and other members

  • Brothers of Italy : prime minister, 9 ministers, 4 deputy ministers, 13 undersecretaries
  • Lega: 5 ministers, 2 deputy ministers, 8 undersecretaries
  • Forza Italia : 5 ministers, 2 deputy ministers, 7 undersecretaries
  • Independents: 5 ministers, 2 undersecretaries

Geographical breakdown

Beginning of term

Current