Italy: Meloni defends economic record amid political pressure

Giorgia Meloni Italian economy Monte dei Paschi di Siena Italian politics youth voter approval

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is defending her government's economic record, citing encouraging growth data for the first two quarters of 2026 and a return to a primary surplus in 2024. Meloni highlighted that the country's stability has helped navigate a difficult economic period, noting that the spread has decreased significantly since her administration took office. She also expressed optimism regarding Italy's ability to exit the EU infringement procedure and announced plans to use 14 billion euros in additional energy resources over the next two years to support vulnerable families and businesses.

However, the Prime Minister faces significant domestic challenges. Political opposition, including the Democratic Party, has criticized her economic claims and urged the government to protect the identity and autonomy of Monte dei Paschi di Siena by not selling the state's stake. Furthermore, polling data indicates a sharp decline in Meloni's popularity among voters aged 18 to 34, with approval ratings for her coalition dropping below 30% in this demographic. Analysts attribute this trend to a lack of meaningful economic reforms for younger generations and a focus on security measures.

Entities

Democratic Party · European Union · Five Star Movement · Fratelli d'Italia · G7 · Giorgia Meloni · Italy · Milano Finanza · Monte dei Paschi di Siena · Movimento 5 Stelle · Partito Democratico · Youtrend

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] The Italian economy is performing well. notiziedi.it · www.radiostudio90italia.it · www.baritalianews.it · www.ilfattonisseno.it · ladiscussione.com · +1 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] Approval for Meloni's coalition among voters aged 18 to 34 is at 25%. www.lanotiziagiornale.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Democratic Party's Nico Bartalini urged Meloni to convince Minister Giorgetti not to sell the state's stake in Monte dei Paschi di Siena. www.radiosienatv.it
[● 5 SOURCES] Economic data for the first two quarters of 2026 shows 1% growth compared to the same period in 2025. notiziedi.it · www.radiostudio90italia.it · www.ilfattonisseno.it · ladiscussione.com · vocedimantova.it
[● 3 SOURCES] The government plans to use 14 billion euros in additional energy resources over the next two years to mitigate price increases. www.radiostudio90italia.it · www.ilfattonisseno.it · vocedimantova.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Prime Minister expressed hope that Monte dei Paschi di Siena will not be broken up and will maintain its identity. www.gazzettadisiena.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] Younger voters are clearly leaning toward the center-left. www.lanotiziagiornale.it
[● 3 SOURCES] Exiting the EU infringement procedure is an achievable goal for the government. www.radiostudio90italia.it · www.ilfattonisseno.it · vocedimantova.it