Politics of Italy

1945

The other 15 regions were in practice established in 1970, even if their ideation had been a much earlier idea. ==History of the post-war political landscape== ===First Republic: 1946–1994=== There have been frequent government turnovers since 1945, indeed there have been 66 governments in this time.

1946

Italy has been a democratic republic since 2 June 1946, when the monarchy was abolished by popular referendum and a constituent assembly was elected to draft a constitution, which was promulgated on 1 January 1948. Executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers, which is led by the Prime Minister, officially referred to as "President of the Council" (Presidente del Consiglio).

Sovereignty belongs to the people and is exercised by the people in the forms and within the limits of the Constitution. By stating that Italy is a democratic republic, the article solemnly declares the results of the constitutional referendum which took place on 2 June 1946.

The other 15 regions were in practice established in 1970, even if their ideation had been a much earlier idea. ==History of the post-war political landscape== ===First Republic: 1946–1994=== There have been frequent government turnovers since 1945, indeed there have been 66 governments in this time.

1947

The dominance of the Christian Democratic party during much of the postwar period lent continuity and comparative stability to Italy's political situation, mainly dominated by the attempt of keeping the Italian Communist Party (PCI) out of power in order to maintain Cold War equilibrium in the region (see May 1947 crisis). The communists were in the government only in the national unity governments before 1948, in which their party's secretary Palmiro Togliatti was minister of Justice.

1948

Italy has been a democratic republic since 2 June 1946, when the monarchy was abolished by popular referendum and a constituent assembly was elected to draft a constitution, which was promulgated on 1 January 1948. Executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers, which is led by the Prime Minister, officially referred to as "President of the Council" (Presidente del Consiglio).

The dominance of the Christian Democratic party during much of the postwar period lent continuity and comparative stability to Italy's political situation, mainly dominated by the attempt of keeping the Italian Communist Party (PCI) out of power in order to maintain Cold War equilibrium in the region (see May 1947 crisis). The communists were in the government only in the national unity governments before 1948, in which their party's secretary Palmiro Togliatti was minister of Justice.

1969

This practical political experience may have contributed to their taking a more pragmatic approach to politics. ====The Years of Lead==== On 12 December 1969, a roughly decade-long period of extremist left- and right-wing political terrorism, known as The Years of Lead (as in the metal of bullets, anni di piombo), began with the Piazza Fontana bombing in the center of Milan.

1970

The other 15 regions were in practice established in 1970, even if their ideation had been a much earlier idea. ==History of the post-war political landscape== ===First Republic: 1946–1994=== There have been frequent government turnovers since 1945, indeed there have been 66 governments in this time.

1978

However, this attempt at compromise was stopped by the kidnapping and murder of Moro in 1978 by the Red Brigades, an extremist left-wing terrorist organization. The Communist Party was at this point the largest communist party in Western Europe and remained such for the rest of its existence.

1980

Fascist "black terrorists", such as Ordine Nuovo and the Avanguardia Nazionale, were in the 1980s and 1990s found to be responsible for several terrorist attacks.

The Red Brigades killed socialist journalist Walter Tobagi and in their most famous operation kidnapped and assassinated Aldo Moro, president of the Christian Democracy, who was trying to involve the Communist Party in the government through the [compromise|compromesso storico] ("historic compromise"), to which the radical left as well as Washington were opposed. The last and largest of the bombings, known as the Bologna massacre, destroyed the city's railway station in 1980.

1984

The Communist Party surpassed the Christian Democrats only in the European elections of 1984, held barely two days after Berlinguer's death, a passing that likely drew sympathy from many voters.

The election of 1984 was to be the only time the Christian Democrats did not emerge as the largest party in a nationwide election in which they participated. In 1987, one year after the Chernobyl disaster following a referendum in that year, a nuclear phase-out was commenced.

1987

The election of 1984 was to be the only time the Christian Democrats did not emerge as the largest party in a nationwide election in which they participated. In 1987, one year after the Chernobyl disaster following a referendum in that year, a nuclear phase-out was commenced.

A moratorium on the construction of new plants, originally in effect from 1987 until 1993, has since been extended indefinitely. In these years, corruption began to be more extensive, a development that would be exposed in the early 1990s and nicknamed Tangentopoli.

1988

It is based on a mix of the adversarial and inquisitorial civil law systems, although the adversarial system was adopted in the Appeal Courts in 1988.

1990

Fascist "black terrorists", such as Ordine Nuovo and the Avanguardia Nazionale, were in the 1980s and 1990s found to be responsible for several terrorist attacks.

On 24 October 1990, Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti (DC) revealed to the Parliament the existence of Gladio, NATO's secret "stay-behind" networks which stocked weapons in order to facilitate an armed resistance in case of a communist coup.

Italy's four nuclear power plants were closed down, the last in 1990.

A moratorium on the construction of new plants, originally in effect from 1987 until 1993, has since been extended indefinitely. In these years, corruption began to be more extensive, a development that would be exposed in the early 1990s and nicknamed Tangentopoli.

1992

The third is a legitimating trial. In November 2014, Italy accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. ==Political parties and elections== All Italian citizens older than 18 can vote, but to vote for the Senate the voter must be 25 or older. ===Chamber of Deputies=== ===Senate of the Republic=== ===Political parties=== Italy's dramatic self-renewal transformed the political landscape between 1992 and 1997.

1993

A moratorium on the construction of new plants, originally in effect from 1987 until 1993, has since been extended indefinitely. In these years, corruption began to be more extensive, a development that would be exposed in the early 1990s and nicknamed Tangentopoli.

1994

New political forces and new alignments of power emerged in the March 1994 national elections.

This election saw a major turnover in the new parliament, with 452 out of 630 deputies and 213 out of 315 senators elected for the first time. The 1994 elections also swept media magnate Silvio Berlusconi (leader of Pole of Freedoms coalition) into office as prime minister.

However, Berlusconi was forced to step down in December 1994 when the Lega Nord withdrew support.

1995

A trend toward two large coalitions (one on the center-left and the other on the center-right) emerged from the April 1995 regional elections.

1996

For the 1996 national elections, the center-left parties created the Olive Tree coalition while the center-right united again under the House of Freedoms.

The Berlusconi government was succeeded by a technical government headed by Prime Minister Lamberto Dini, which left office in early 1996. A series of center-left coalitions dominated Italy's political landscape between 1996 and 2001.

In April 1996, national elections led to the victory of a center-left coalition, The Olive Tree, under the leadership of Romano Prodi.

1997

The third is a legitimating trial. In November 2014, Italy accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. ==Political parties and elections== All Italian citizens older than 18 can vote, but to vote for the Senate the voter must be 25 or older. ===Chamber of Deputies=== ===Senate of the Republic=== ===Political parties=== Italy's dramatic self-renewal transformed the political landscape between 1992 and 1997.

1998

Prodi's government became the third-longest to stay in power before he narrowly lost a vote of confidence, by three votes, in October 1998. In May 1999, the Parliament selected Carlo Azeglio Ciampi as the President of the Republic.

1999

Prodi's government became the third-longest to stay in power before he narrowly lost a vote of confidence, by three votes, in October 1998. In May 1999, the Parliament selected Carlo Azeglio Ciampi as the President of the Republic.

2000

In 2000, a Parliament Commission report from the Olive Tree (centre-left) coalition concluded that the strategy of tension followed by Gladio had been supported by the United States to "stop the PCI and, to a certain degree, the PSI [Italian Socialist Party] from reaching executive power in the country". ====1980s==== With the end of the lead years, the Communist Party gradually increased their votes under the leadership of Enrico Berlinguer.

2001

The Berlusconi government was succeeded by a technical government headed by Prime Minister Lamberto Dini, which left office in early 1996. A series of center-left coalitions dominated Italy's political landscape between 1996 and 2001.

2007

Following a government crisis, Prodi submitted his resignation on 21 February 2007.

On 28 February 2007, Prodi narrowly survived a senate no confidence vote. On 24 January 2008, the Prodi II Cabinet went through a new crisis because Minister of Justice Clemente Mastella retracted his support to the Cabinet.

Consequently, the Prodi Cabinet lost the vote of confidence and the President Giorgio Napolitano called a new general election. The election set against two new parties, the Democratic Party (founded in October 2007 by the union of the Democrats of the Left and Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy) led by Walter Veltroni: and The People of Freedom (federation of Forza Italia, National Alliance and other parties) led by Silvio Berlusconi.

2008

On 28 February 2007, Prodi narrowly survived a senate no confidence vote. On 24 January 2008, the Prodi II Cabinet went through a new crisis because Minister of Justice Clemente Mastella retracted his support to the Cabinet.

2011

Thus, despite the fact that the executive branch bears responsibility toward the Parliament, the governments led by Mario Monti (since 2011) and by Enrico Letta (since 2013) were called "unelected governments" because they won a vote of confidence by a Parliament coalition formed by centre-right and left-right parties that had in turn obtained parliamentary seats by taking part in the elections as competitors, rather than allies.

2013

In 2013, the youngest among the candidates for prime minister (Pier Luigi Bersani) is 62, the others being 70 and 78.

Thus, despite the fact that the executive branch bears responsibility toward the Parliament, the governments led by Mario Monti (since 2011) and by Enrico Letta (since 2013) were called "unelected governments" because they won a vote of confidence by a Parliament coalition formed by centre-right and left-right parties that had in turn obtained parliamentary seats by taking part in the elections as competitors, rather than allies.

While formally complying with law and procedures, the creation of these governments did not comply with the decision made by people through the election. Meanwhile, in 2013, a ruling by the Constitutional Court of Italy established that the Italian electoral system employed to elect the Parliament breached a number of Constitutional requirements.

2014

The third is a legitimating trial. In November 2014, Italy accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. ==Political parties and elections== All Italian citizens older than 18 can vote, but to vote for the Senate the voter must be 25 or older. ===Chamber of Deputies=== ===Senate of the Republic=== ===Political parties=== Italy's dramatic self-renewal transformed the political landscape between 1992 and 1997.

2019

The current president is Sergio Mattarella, and the current prime minister is Mario Draghi. The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Italy as a "flawed democracy" in 2019.




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