Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the milestone reflects the Italian people’s trust and confidence in Giorgia Meloni’s leadership….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on becoming Italy’s longest continuously serving Prime Minister in the country’s postwar history, praising her leadership and contribution to strengthening ties between New Delhi and Rome.
In a message posted on X, PM Modi said the milestone reflected the trust and confidence of the Italian people in Meloni’s leadership.
“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,” he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Meloni’s role in deepening bilateral relations and said he looked forward to continued cooperation between the two countries.
“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,” PM Modi added.
Meloni’s government has now become the longest-serving administration in the postwar history of the Italian Republic, surpassing the tenure of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Italy’s first woman Prime Minister assumed office on October 22, 2022, and her government reached 1,413 days in office on Friday, marking a significant milestone in a country known for frequent changes of government.
The exchange of congratulations comes just months after Meloni congratulated PM Modi on becoming India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister.
In July, the Italian leader praised Modi’s political achievement and expressed her commitment to working together to create new opportunities for both nations and their people.
“Congratulations to Narendra Modi who today becomes the longest-serving elected Prime Minister in the history of India,” Meloni had said in a post on X, following a meeting between the two leaders in Rome.
The relationship between Modi and Meloni has gained momentum in recent years alongside the expanding strategic partnership between India and Italy.
During PM Modi’s two-day official visit to Italy in May, he held talks with Meloni and Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Modi and Meloni agreed to elevate bilateral relations to the level of a Special Strategic Partnership, signalling a new phase in cooperation between the two countries.
The leaders welcomed the growing momentum in high-level exchanges and agreed to hold annual meetings, including on the sidelines of multilateral events. They also called for regular ministerial and institutional-level engagements.
Beyond official diplomacy, the personal rapport between Modi and Meloni has frequently attracted attention on social media.
During his visit to Italy in May, PM Modi presented Meloni with a packet of Melody toffees in a light-hearted reference to the viral “#Melodi” trend, a portmanteau combining the names Modi and Meloni.
The informal exchange, accompanied by laughter, was later shared by Meloni on Instagram, where she thanked the Indian Prime Minister for the gift.
The “Melodi” trend has repeatedly gone viral online, reflecting the friendly public interactions between the two leaders during international summits and bilateral meetings.
As Meloni marks a historic milestone in Italian politics, PM Modi’s message underlined both their personal rapport and the growing importance of the India-Italy partnership, with the two leaders pledging to continue working together towards a prosperous future for their countries.
