Italy Faces Longest Economic Recession in 25 Years with Industry Decline of 7% Under Meloni's Leadership

Official data from Italian ministries and the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) show that the Italian economy is experiencing its longest continuous recession in a quarter of a century, with a noticeable decline in industrial sector performance since Giorgia Meloni took office as Prime Minister.

According to the analysis, Italian industrial production has decreased by 7% since October 2022, the date Meloni assumed the premiership, while the average GDP growth did not exceed 0.5% during the same period.

Meloni, who became the first woman to hold the position of Prime Minister in Italy's history, had promised during her election campaign to boost national production and implement a "Made in Italy" strategy to enhance supply chains and achieve food sovereignty. However, recent economic indicators point to a significant slowdown, with the growth rate dropping from 4.6% before she took office to less than 1% in most subsequent periods.

This decline also reflects the loss of the industrial sector's weight in the national economy, as its contribution fell from 23.3% in 2022 to 21.7% in 2024, recording a loss of 1.6% in just three years. This is the weakest economic performance since the European debt crisis between 2011 and 2015, which saw similar growth rates that did not exceed 1%.

Experts indicate that this data poses a significant challenge for the Italian government in implementing its plans to strengthen national industry and ensure economic stability amid increasing global pressures.