Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (AP Photo/File)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni may have told Donald Trump not to worry about her popularity and focus on his own, but she is reportedly considering preponing the country’s next general elections over concerns that her popularity could slide the longer she waits.Also Read | ‘Focus on your own popularity’: Italian PM Giorgia Meloni fires back at US President Donald Trump’s ‘senseless’ attacksAccording to a Bloomberg report, Meloni, Italy’s first woman prime minister, has discussed the possibility of calling early elections—potentially as soon as April 2027—with President Sergio Mattarella, who has the constitutional authority to dissolve parliament and trigger a fresh vote.If held as scheduled, Italy’s next general election is due in December 2027. The previous election, which brought Meloni to power, was held in September 2022.As per reports, pressure on her government has been building since March, when voters rejected a referendum on justice reforms. The setback was followed by the departure of three members of her administration.Since then, opinion polls have shown growing support for the far-right National Future Party.If Meloni remains in office until September, she will become Italy’s longest-serving prime minister, surpassing Silvio Berlusconi.
Giorgia Meloni vs Donald Trump
The Bloomberg report comes days after Meloni said Trump should worry about his own popularity—the US midterms are due in November—escalating a war of words that began when he claimed the Italian leader had “begged” for a photograph with him at the G7 Summit last week, in France.After Meloni called the claim “fully made up,” Trump repeated that she “begged” for a photograph – linking it to what he described as her “falling popularity.”The Italian PM then responded: “President Trump, these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless. As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you. My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest, and that is exactly what I have always done.””That is also what I did regarding the American military bases in Italy. Their use is governed by agreements that we have always respected, and that cannot be violated as long as I am Prime Minister. Italy remains a sovereign nation. In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours,” she added.Italy was among several European countries that refused to allow the US to use their facilities for strikes on Iran, drawing Trump’s ire.
