Meloni faces growing youth backlash ahead of Italy election

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is facing growing dissatisfaction among young voters as the country

ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is facing growing dissatisfaction among young voters as the country moves closer to a national election expected next year.

Recent opinion polls indicate that voters aged 18 to 34 are increasingly moving away from Meloni’s right-wing coalition and towards opposition parties. Analysts say the shift could become significant if young Italians turn out in large numbers at the 2027 election.

Lorenzo Pregliasco, head of polling agency Youtrend, said younger voters were clearly showing greater support for the centre-left.

Meloni’s coalition, which includes her Brothers of Italy party, Matteo Salvini’s League and Antonio Tajani’s Forza Italia, now has less than 30% support among voters under 35. The opposition bloc, led by the Democratic Party, the 5-Star Movement and the Left-Green Alliance, commands close to half of the support among the same age group.

The situation marks a major change from 2023, when Meloni’s party alone enjoyed support among young voters comparable to the combined backing now received by her coalition.

Analysts attribute much of the discontent to Italy’s economic difficulties and limited opportunities for younger people. Critics argue that the government has failed to introduce major economic reforms capable of improving employment prospects and reversing the country’s long-standing youth unemployment problem.

Eurostat data shows that Italy has the lowest employment rate among people aged 15 to 24 in the 21-member eurozone. The country also spends less on education than most of its European partners.

The economic challenges have encouraged many young Italians to seek opportunities abroad. According to Bank of Italy data cited in the analysis, young graduates in Germany earn substantially more than their Italian counterparts.

Meloni’s approval rating among voters under 35 stands at around 25%, compared with approximately 35% among the wider population.

Political scientist Lorenzo De Sio of Rome’s Luiss University said the lack of movement on economic policy was a major source of frustration among young voters.

Meloni is also facing competition from the far right. National Future, a party formed earlier this year by former army general Roberto Vannacci, has already gained around 7% support in some polls. The party has attracted middle-aged men but is also gaining attention among some young urban voters opposed to immigration.

The government’s law-and-order policies have further contributed to tensions with sections of the younger population. Measures targeting rave parties, cannabis production, street protests, squatters and juvenile crime have drawn criticism from youth groups.

A nationwide student protest known as “No Meloni Day” brought thousands of demonstrators onto the streets last year. Protesters criticised security measures, education spending and Meloni’s position on the Gaza conflict.

The government has also proposed changes to rules governing criminal responsibility for minors. Under the proposed legislation, people aged 14 to 17 who commit crimes could be treated as fully responsible unless it is established that they did not understand the consequences of their actions.

Youth dissatisfaction has previously been difficult to measure because turnout among younger Italians is traditionally low. Many young voters have tended to stay away from elections rather than support opposition parties.

That pattern changed during a March referendum on a judicial reform backed by Meloni. Around 67% of voters under 35 participated, and 60% of them rejected the proposed reform.

The result demonstrated the potential influence of young voters when they participate in large numbers.