Meloni Faces Growing Youth Support Crisis Ahead of Italy’s 2027 Election

Rome, August 13, 2026 — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is confronting an increasingly difficult political challenge among younger voters, with recent polling indicating that support for her government has fallen sharply among people under 35. The shift could become particularly important as Italy approaches its next national election, expected in 2027.

Meloni and her right-wing coalition came to power in 2022 after campaigning on themes including national identity, immigration control, economic reform and public security. Nearly four years later, however, younger Italians appear considerably less enthusiastic about the government’s record than older sections of the electorate.

According to data cited by Reuters, only about 25% of voters under 35 approve of Meloni’s government, compared with approximately 35% across the population as a whole. The ruling coalition’s combined support among younger voters is also below 30%, while the centre-left opposition commands considerably stronger backing in this age group.

Youth Could Become a Decisive Electoral Factor

The growing distance between Meloni’s government and younger voters matters because Italy’s next election could be closely contested.

The governing alliance consists principally of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy, Matteo Salvini’s League and Antonio Tajani’s Forza Italia. On the opposite side, several centre-left and left-leaning forces are competing for voters, including the Democratic Party, the Five Star Movement and the Left-Green Alliance.

Lorenzo Pregliasco of polling agency YouTrend told Reuters that younger voters are clearly leaning toward the centre-left. However, youth participation in elections has traditionally been relatively weak.

That could become a crucial factor in 2027. A large number of young voters may express dissatisfaction with the government but fail to turn that dissatisfaction into votes if they do not participate.

The political challenge for Meloni is therefore twofold: rebuilding support among younger Italians and persuading dissatisfied young voters to remain engaged with the electoral process.

Economic Opportunities Remain a Major Concern

Economic prospects are at the centre of much of the dissatisfaction.

Italy has struggled for years with relatively weak wage growth, limited employment opportunities for young people and the migration of highly educated workers abroad. Young graduates frequently face a difficult transition from education into stable employment.

Reuters reported that Italy’s employment rate among people aged 15 to 24 is the lowest in the euro zone. The country also invests less in education than many of its European partners.

The wage gap is another major issue.

According to data cited by Reuters from the Bank of Italy, young graduates in Germany earn substantially more on average than their Italian counterparts. At the same time, thousands of young Italians leave the country each year in search of better professional opportunities.

For a generation already facing expensive housing, uncertain employment and limited career progression, these structural problems can have a direct influence on political preferences.

Law-and-Order Policies Draw Criticism

Meloni’s government has placed considerable emphasis on law and order.

Several policies have targeted issues involving public disorder, illegal activities, juvenile crime and recreational drug use. The government has also taken measures concerning rave parties and light cannabis.

Supporters argue that these policies strengthen public security and establish clearer rules. Critics, particularly among younger people, contend that some of the measures disproportionately affect their generation.

The result has been a political divide over what young Italians expect from government.

While the governing coalition has emphasized security and traditional conservative priorities, many younger voters appear more concerned with employment, education, housing and personal freedoms.

A Gender Divide Is Also Emerging

The youth political landscape is not uniform.

Recent polling indicates a significant gender difference, with young women tending to support left-wing and centre-left parties more strongly than young men.

This could become an important consideration for political strategists as the 2027 election approaches.

For Meloni, the issue is particularly notable because she became Italy’s first woman prime minister and built much of her political identity around conservative values, family policy and national sovereignty.

Yet holding the support of younger women appears to be increasingly difficult.

The opposition could seek to capitalize on this divide by emphasizing employment equality, education, social policies and issues relating to women’s rights.

Vannacci Creates a New Challenge on the Right

Meloni is not facing pressure only from the political left.

A new hard-right force associated with former army general Roberto Vannacci is attracting support, creating another potential challenge for the governing coalition.

Vannacci’s political movement, National Future, was established in February 2026 and has positioned itself further to the right on issues including nationalism, immigration and European integration.

Reuters reported that the movement was polling at around 7%, giving it the potential to influence the balance within Italy’s right-wing political camp.

The emergence of Vannacci creates a complicated situation for Meloni.

If voters who previously supported the governing parties move toward National Future, the right could become more fragmented. At the same time, Vannacci’s movement could potentially attract voters who want a harder-line political alternative without moving toward the traditional left.

The Opposition Sees an Opportunity

The centre-left opposition has an opportunity to strengthen its position among young Italians.

Its challenge, however, is converting broad dissatisfaction with the government into a coherent electoral coalition.

Italy’s opposition remains divided across several political groups with differing positions on economic policy, immigration, foreign affairs and social issues.

The Five Star Movement, Democratic Party and Green-left forces do not always agree on major questions. Their ability to cooperate could therefore determine whether dissatisfaction among young voters translates into an electoral advantage.

The opposition also needs to overcome another challenge: motivating younger citizens to vote.

High levels of political dissatisfaction do not automatically guarantee high turnout.

The 2027 Election Could Be Shaped by Younger Italians

The youth vote could become one of the most closely watched elements of the next Italian election.

If young voters participate in large numbers and continue favouring centre-left parties, Meloni’s coalition could face a serious electoral obstacle.

But if turnout among younger voters remains low, the impact of current polling could be much smaller.

The political environment could also change considerably before Italians vote. Economic conditions, migration, employment figures, European policy and international developments could all influence public opinion.

Meloni still retains significant support among the broader electorate, and her government has demonstrated considerable political durability since taking office.

A Battle for the Future of Italy’s Right

The rise of Vannacci adds another layer to the political competition.

Meloni has sought to establish her government as a credible conservative force within Europe while maintaining strong positions on immigration, national sovereignty and security. Vannacci’s movement, meanwhile, is attempting to attract voters who want an even more uncompromising right-wing approach.

This could force Meloni to decide whether to compete directly with the new movement for conservative voters or focus on winning back centrist and younger Italians.

Either strategy carries risks.

Moving further right could make it harder to attract moderate voters, while moving toward the centre could allow Vannacci to portray her government as insufficiently conservative.

What Comes Next?

With the 2027 election approaching, Italy’s political debate is likely to increasingly focus on younger generations.

Employment, wages, education, housing and opportunities abroad could become more important campaign issues as parties attempt to win voters who feel disconnected from the existing political system.

For Meloni, the latest polling serves as a warning that the coalition’s strong performance among the overall electorate does not necessarily translate into support among younger Italians.

The 25% approval figure among under-35 voters highlights the scale of the challenge.

At the same time, the emergence of Vannacci’s National Future means that Meloni must defend her position from both sides of the political spectrum.

The next Italian election is still some distance away, leaving considerable time for political alliances, economic conditions and voter preferences to change.

But one trend is already becoming difficult to ignore: Italy’s younger generation could play a much larger role in determining the country’s political direction in 2027.