New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended his warm congratulations to his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, on achieving a historic milestone by becoming the longest continuously serving prime minister in Italy’s postwar history.
Meloni, who assumed office on October 22, 2022, as Italy’s first female prime minister, marked 1,413 consecutive days in power on Thursday. With this achievement, her conservative government broke an 80-year-old record, surpassing the benchmark previously set by the late former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi between 2001 and 2005.
Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi praised Meloni’s leadership and the deep-rooted bilateral relations between the two nations. “Congratulations to my friend Prime Minister Meloni on becoming the longest continuously serving Prime Minister in Italy’s postwar history. This milestone is a reflection of the trust and confidence of the Italian people in her leadership,” Modi stated in his post.
He further emphasised the critical role her tenure has played in elevating diplomatic ties. “Her friendship has also been instrumental in strengthening the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership and I look forward to continuing our close cooperation to build a prosperous future for the people of our countries. My best wishes for her continued success in the years ahead,” the Prime Minister added.
The diplomatic camaraderie between the two leaders, affectionately dubbed ‘Melodi’ across social media, has been highly visible on the global stage. Responding to the heartfelt wishes, Meloni expressed her gratitude and highlighted the upward trajectory of bilateral relations. “Thank you, dear @narendramodi, for your words and for your friendship. The relationship between Italy and India is today stronger than ever,” she wrote.
Meloni noted that the Special Strategic Partnership is a clear testament to their mutual desire to pool the expertise of both nations for shared economic growth. She also reaffirmed Italy’s robust commitment to working alongside India to develop the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
The exchange of greetings comes shortly after PM Modi himself achieved a similar feat back home. On June 10, Modi became India’s longest continuously serving elected head of government, completing 4,399 consecutive days in office. This recent interaction further underscores the growing strategic alignment and personal rapport driving the contemporary India-Italy partnership.