Following the resignation announcement of UK Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, attention has turned to the winds of change at Downing Street. The country is preparing to welcome its seventh prime minister in ten years.
This figure stands out as a remarkable level for a country historically known for relative government stability compared to its European neighbors, thanks to its electoral system and political structure.
However, a report published by Euronews covering prime ministers and positions with equivalent powers revealed that the UK is not alone in this regard. The UK ranks third with seven prime ministers between 2016 and 2026, tied with Austria.
Romania tops the list with 11 prime ministers
At the top of the list is Romania with 11 prime ministers. The last prime minister in the country to complete a full term served in 2008. In Romania, the prime minister shares executive power with the president.
In second place is Bulgaria, which has changed 10 prime ministers due to years of political instability and fragile party coalitions. Italy, known for political instability, ranks fourth with five prime ministers, alongside Latvia and Slovakia, having experienced an average of one government change per year since World War II.
France has changed 9 prime ministers
The study also acknowledges the difficulties of comparing different government systems. For instance, differences in authority between presidents, prime ministers and chancellors affect the assessment.
When the evaluation is limited only to the prime minister, France ranks third. The country witnessed nine prime ministerial changes, from Gabriel Attal and Michel Barnier to François Bayrou and current Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, due to political gridlock following inconclusive parliamentary elections in 2024. Meanwhile, France saw only two presidents in the same period.
Spain and Portugal had two prime ministers each between 2016 and 2026.
Countries forming a government every year
The debate in Europe is not limited to the number of changes of heads of government; the average lifespan of governments is also under scrutiny. Liz Truss's 49-day premiership in the UK in 2022 has raised further questions on this issue.
According to an analysis by the US-based Pew Research Center, most European countries saw at least one government change between World War II and 2022. In Belgium, Finland and Italy, the average government duration fell well below 365 days, the full constitutional term granted to a new government.
When a government falls through a vote of no confidence, resignation or cabinet reshuffle, new governments are usually formed through party coalitions or early elections. This leads to the emergence of interim governments, whose duration varies from country to country.
The Netherlands had the highest number of interim governments in the analysis, with 11 since World War II. It was followed by Belgium with 9 and Bulgaria with 8. Belgium also holds the record for the longest-serving interim government. The third government led by Yves Leterme ran the country on an interim basis for 541 days between 2010 and 2011.
