The Meloni government in the context of the ‘smaller’ parliament: new programmes, old equipment

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article assesses, a few months after the Meloni government’s inauguration, the extent to which the new executive has as compared to its predecessors, been an executive of change. The significant shifts that had taken place in the political landscape gave rise to expectations of considerable innovation. The Meloni government is the first led by a woman; it marks the return of a centre-right majority coalition to power, and it operates within a parliament that is smaller due to the 2020 constitutional reform that reduced the number of deputies and senators. In light of these factors, we examine whether the Government’s actions are different compared to its predecessors based on the Prime Minister’s profile and the political and technical qualifications of ministers. We test our expectations by analysing the Government’s legislative activity, particularly focusing on the 2024 budget. However, the findings fail to support our expectations for the period under investigation, as long-term trends prevailed.