People familiar with the matter say Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is assessing
holding the next election as early as April 2027, several months before the
legal deadline at end-2027. She is concerned her support could weaken if the
vote is delayed and that a late election would leave a new government
insufficient time to pass next year’s budget before year-end. The proposal, one
of several options under consideration, has been raised with President
Mattarella’s office, which must dissolve parliament and call a vote.
Spokespeople for Meloni and Mattarella declined to comment.
