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Meloni Nears Italy’s Stability Record, But 2027 Election Could Disrupt It

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to lead Italy’s longest-lasting government since World War Two, surpassing a record previously held by Silvio Berlusconi. Her government has benefited from political stability and improved investor confidence, particularly through tighter control of Italy’s public finances.

However, analysts warn that the stability may not last beyond the 2027 parliamentary elections. While Meloni’s government has strengthened employment and reduced irregular migration, critics say it has made limited progress on deeper reforms to public administration, healthcare and education. A failed judicial reform referendum and strained relations with U.S. President Donald Trump have also weakened her political standing.

The rise of a new far-right party led by former general Roberto Vannacci is adding further uncertainty. Recent polling suggests Meloni’s conservative coalition could struggle to reach the 42% threshold linked to proposed electoral reforms, while Vannacci’s support has risen to around 8%. Analysts say Italy could once again face a fragmented parliament and unstable coalition politics after the election.

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Italy’s Population Set to Shrink by 4 Million by 2050

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Italy’s population is projected to fall by almost 4 million by 2050, raising concerns over the country’s economy and welfare system as its population continues to age. The national statistics agency ISTAT said the population could decline from 58.9 million in early 2025 to around 55 million by 2050, before falling further to 45.8 million by 2080.

Italy’s declining birth rate is a major factor behind the demographic trend. Births fell to about 355,000 in 2025, the lowest level since the country’s unification in 1861. ISTAT expects annual births to remain broadly stable until 2030 before declining to around 335,000 by 2050, while annual deaths could peak at 869,000 in 2058.

The ageing population is expected to put increasing pressure on Italy’s workforce, pensions and welfare services. The share of people aged 65 and above is projected to rise from 24.7% in 2025 to 34.5% in 2050, while the working-age population could fall from 63.4% to 55.3%. Southern Italy is expected to experience the sharpest decline, with its population forecast to fall from 19.7 million to 16.7 million by 2050.

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A Decade After Earthquake, Italy’s Amatrice Struggles to Rebuild

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Ten years after a devastating earthquake killed 303 people and destroyed much of central Italy’s Amatrice, the town is still struggling to recover. The 6.2-magnitude quake left thousands homeless, with Amatrice suffering the highest number of deaths. Although the government has approved billions of euros for reconstruction, only 38% of damaged properties in Amatrice have been restored.

Rebuilding has been slowed by bureaucracy, legal disputes, ownership issues and labour shortages. The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted construction, while Italy’s Superbonus renovation scheme increased building costs and diverted workers to more profitable projects elsewhere. Around 1,000 residents, or about 60% of Amatrice’s population, still live in prefabricated shelters.

Beyond the physical reconstruction, residents fear the town is losing its connection with a younger generation. Families that once returned every summer are increasingly staying away, while some residents have left permanently. Mayor Giorgio Cortellesi says the town is being rebuilt, but questions whether recreating the old town is enough to restore the community and its way of life.

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Italy’s Fragmented Space Industry Faces Pressure to Consolidate Amid European Defence Push

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As Europe accelerates efforts to strengthen its strategic autonomy in defence and critical technologies, Italy’s space industry is facing mounting pressure to scale up. Historically defined by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with niche engineering expertise, the sector is struggling to meet evolving customer demands. Major defence buyers like Leonardo, alongside commercial clients, are increasingly favoring larger suppliers that can offer vertical integration, broad production capacity, and end-to-end industrial solutions rather than standalone components or engineering know-how.

The push for scale is driven by the growing importance of dual-use (civilian and military) technologies, competition from heavily capitalized global players like SpaceX, and broader geopolitical shifts. However, Italian executives point to limited access to private capital and fragmented European funding as significant barriers to growth. To overcome these hurdles, public and private initiatives are stepping in—such as a joint financing program by Intesa Sanpaolo, the European Investment Bank, and the European Space Agency aimed at providing up to €300 million to space SMEs, as well as an estimated €7.8 billion in total national sector investments expected by 2028.

To build competitiveness quickly without sacrificing specialized innovation, leading Italian space firms are turning to mergers and acquisitions. Companies like Officina Stellare and D-Orbit are actively acquiring complementary tech and production specialists to expand their capabilities and secure larger government and defence contracts. Industry leaders emphasize that the key challenge moving forward is securing the necessary scale and capital before foreign competitors outpace or acquire them.

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Italy Recovers Stolen Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse Paintings

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Italian police have recovered three paintings by renowned French artists Paul Cezanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Henri Matisse, around five months after they were stolen from a museum near Parma. Italy’s Carabinieri cultural heritage protection unit said the artworks were found following a complex investigation, with further details expected to be released.

The paintings were taken from the Fondazione Magnani Rocca museum in Mamiano di Traversetolo during the night of March 22-23. Art experts estimated their combined value at more than €9 million ($10.4 million). The recovered works include Cezanne’s Cup and Plate of Cherries, Renoir’s The Fish and Matisse’s Odalisque on the Terrace.

Police also released footage showing two masked burglars entering the museum through a window, removing the three paintings from the walls and escaping in less than three minutes. The Fondazione Magnani Rocca houses a private collection featuring works by major artists including Titian, Goya, Tiepolo, Monet, Rubens and Morandi.

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Italian NATO Fighter Shoots Down Drone Over Latvia

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An Italian Eurofighter jet operating under NATO command shot down a drone after it entered Latvian airspace on Friday, according to NATO and Latvian authorities. The drone’s origin remains unknown, with Latvian National Guard troops searching a wooded area near Rugaji, about 35 km from the Russian border, for possible debris from the aircraft.

Two Italian Eurofighters scrambled from Lithuania, while two Turkish F-16s were also deployed from Estonia after the drone was detected. NATO said one of the Italian jets identified and destroyed the drone, adding that an investigation was underway and that it remained in close contact with Latvian authorities. The incident comes amid growing concerns over drone incursions into the airspace of NATO’s Baltic members, which border Russia and are close to the war in Ukraine.

A Romanian F-16 shot down a Ukrainian drone over Estonia in May, while a French Rafale destroyed another drone in Latvia in June. Finland also temporarily restricted some aviation and maritime activity in the eastern Gulf of Finland as a precaution.

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Italy’s Meloni Faces Growing Challenge From Young Voters Ahead of Election

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is facing growing dissatisfaction among young voters ahead of Italy’s national election next year. Polling agency Youtrend says only 25% of voters under 35 approve of her government, compared with 35% among the wider population. Analysts say younger Italians are increasingly leaning toward centre-left parties, with Meloni’s ruling coalition receiving less than 30% support among under-35s, compared with nearly 50% for the opposition bloc.

Analysts point to limited economic reforms and weak opportunities for young Italians as key reasons for the government’s declining support. Italy has the lowest employment rate for people aged 15 to 24 in the euro zone and invests relatively little in education. Many young Italians also leave the country in search of better-paying jobs abroad. At the same time, Meloni’s law-and-order policies targeting protests, cannabis, squatting and juvenile crime have generated opposition among sections of the younger population.

Meloni also faces competition from the far-right National Future movement led by former army general Roberto Vannacci, which is polling at around 7% and has attracted some young anti-immigration voters. Youth turnout could become especially important in the 2027 election, as young Italians have traditionally been less likely to vote. Their increased participation in a March justice referendum, where 67% of under-35s voted and 60% rejected the reform backed by Meloni, showed their potential influence.

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Mount Etna Ash Cloud Disrupts Flights to Malta

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An ash cloud from Sicily’s Mount Etna volcano drifted over Malta on Tuesday, forcing airlines to cancel flights during the peak summer tourism season. Malta International Airport said volcanic ash over the islands had caused significant disruption to air travel.

By mid-afternoon, 19 flights had been cancelled, while several others faced major delays. Passengers travelling through Malta were advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

Mount Etna, located about 220 km north of Malta, is one of Europe’s most active volcanoes and resumed eruptive activity last week. The eruption also disrupted operations at Sicily’s Catania airport, where the suspension of arrivals and departures was extended until Wednesday morning.

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Etna Eruption Sends Ash Cloud Over Sicily, Disrupting Catania Airport

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Flights arriving at Catania airport in eastern Sicily were suspended on Monday after ash from an eruption of Mount Etna drifted into the area’s airspace. Airport operator SAC said arrivals were halted until 1500 GMT, while passengers were advised to check with their airlines before travelling to the airport.

Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, was continuing to erupt from vents at elevations of around 2,750 and 2,360 metres. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the activity was producing several lava flows and extensive lava fields on the volcano’s slopes.

The volcanic ash posed a significant risk to aircraft, prompting aviation authorities to maintain their highest red alert level. SAC said airport operations and weather conditions were being closely monitored, with further changes possible depending on the development of the eruption.

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Spain Checks Italy Arrivals as Migration Dispute Triggers Border Controls

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Spain checked nearly 200 travellers arriving from Italy at six major airports on the first day of newly reinstated border controls, following a growing dispute with Rome over irregular migration. Spain’s Interior Ministry said 199 passengers on 12 flights were checked at airports in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante and Valencia.

The controls, covering flights and ships from Italy, are scheduled to remain in place until September 7. Spain introduced the measures after Italy suspended the Schengen border-free travel arrangements with Spain, following a surge in migration to Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta. Italy has said its own controls will remain in place until at least August 15 and will mainly target non-EU nationals arriving from Spain.

The dispute has raised concerns over temporary restrictions within Europe’s passport-free Schengen Area, which includes 29 countries. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Rome hopes to lift its measures soon if the risk associated with irregular migration decreases.

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