Election Date: April 13, 2008

Abstract: At stake: Chamber of Deputies, Senate

At stake: Chamber of Deputies, Senate

Background

After the Allied armies invaded Sicily, King Victor Emmanuel III ordered Benito Mussolini jailed, and signed an armistice in 1943. Mussolini, who had commanded Italy into World War II on the side of Nazi Germany, was executed by members of the Italian resistance.

In 1946, Italian citizens voted to replace the monarchy with a republican government. Among its first forays into international relations, the new government was one of the original six signatories of the 1951 Paris Treaty, which paved the way for European integration.

For most of its post-war history, Italy has supported initiatives toward greater cooperation—particularly economic—with other countries. Italy was one of the founding members of the European Economic Community in 1957.

From the 1950s to the 1990s, the political left had a profound success in Italy. The Italian Socialist Party and the Communist Party were both prominent entities, though it was not until 1983 that Bettino Craxi became the country’s first Socialist prime minister since the war. Craxi would go on to lead the country into the G-7 as one of the world’s major industrialized democracies.

In 1992, prominent members of the government were charged with allegations of spectacular corruption and ties with organized crime. A bribery scandal forced the resignation of Craxi as leader of the Socialists, and he fled the country to escape arrest.

Silvio Berlusconi—the wealthiest man in Italy—established the Forwards Italy (Forza Italia) party, and his coalition won the 1994 election on an anti-corruption platform. His critics charged that Berlusconi’s ownership of three major television networks gave him an insuperable advantage over his political opponents.

By year’s end, however, Forza Italia’s coalition collapsed and Berlusconi resigned. Different alliances dominated the Italian political arena until 2001, when the Berlusconi-led House of Freedom (Casa) elected 368 lawmakers to the 630-seat Chamber of Deputies—the largest majority for an Italian government since World War II.

In 2003, Italy committed more than 2,000 soldiers to the war in Iraq—the third largest contingent of the United States-led coalition.

Throughout his political career, Berlusconi has been dogged by allegations that he uses his financial resources to consolidate his public powers and exerts political influence to protect his business interests. He stirred both domestic and international outrage when he pushed through legislation that granted immunity to himself as prime minister.

The last legislative election in Italy took place in April 2006. The right-leaning alliance lost power to the centre-left Union (Unione), led by Romano Prodi.

Click Here for Italy’s 2006 Chamber of Deputies, Senate Election Tracker

On May 14, Giorgio Napolitano became Italy’s president. Napolitano is the first former communist to serve in the office. On May 16, Prodi was formally appointed as prime minister. The Union leader had previously served as head of government from May 1996 to October 1998.

On Feb. 21, 2007, Prodi tendered his resignation after the Senate rejected his plan to deploy more troops to Afghanistan, and expand an American military base located in northern Italy. Two Union members refused to vote with the government, and prompted the defeat of Prodi’s proposal in the Upper House.

Napolitano asked Prodi to remain in power, which he did after winning a confidence motion, but the crisis evidenced problems in the ruling coalition.

Italy has 2,000 troops in Afghanistan working with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The plan to expand a U.S. military base in Vicenza included the transfer of 2,000 American soldiers from Germany to Italy. Currently 3,000 members of the American military are stationed in the Vicenza base.

In October 2007, several centre-left political organizations merged to create the Democratic Party (PD), led by Rome mayor Walter Veltroni. In November 2007, Berlusconi announced the creation of the Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL).

2008 Chamber of Deputies, Senate Election

A legislative election was not supposed to take place in Italy until 2011. However, in January 2008, Prodi lost a confidence vote in Parliament and was forced to step down. After Senate president Franco Marini failed in his bid to form a caretaker administration, a legislative election was scheduled for Apr. 13 and Apr. 14. Prodi announced he would not lead the Union into the next election.

Walter Veltroni’s new Democratic Party (PD) will stand alone in the election. Veltroni has invited members of former allied, small parties to join the PD in order to avoid forming a wide coalition.

Other leftist political organizations include the Left Rainbow (SA)—which brings together the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC), the Party of Italian Communists (PCI), the Green Federation (Verdi) and the Democratic Left (SD)—and Antonio di Pietro’s Italy of Values.

The PD’s main contender will be the centre-right Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL), the National Alliance (AN), the Northern League (LN) and the Popular Alliance (UDEUR). Other rightist parties are the Union of Christian and Centre-Democrats (UDC) and the White Rose (RB) movement, created in January by former UDC members Bruno Tabacci and Mario Baccini.

Veltroni and Berlusconi will be the main rivals in the race to form Italy’s next government.

On Feb. 11, Veltroni launched his campaign, saying, "Italy doesn’t have to pick itself up—the Italy that works, which produces, the hard-working Italians, are already standing. It is politicians who must pick themselves up and change."

Berlusconi has unveiled a seven-point election platform, including tax cuts, financial assistance for young families, and increased spending in infrastructure projects.

On Feb. 12, Giuliano Ferrara, a prominent conservative journalist and former cabinet minister for Berlusconi, announced he would be running for Parliament. In December, Ferrara wrote an editorial calling for a universal moratorium on abortion. His proposal, which echoed the United Nations (UN) proposed moratorium on the death penalty, was swiftly backed by Catholic Church officials, including Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the pope’s vicar for Rome.

Asked if he supported Ferrara’s proposal, Berlusconi said: "I think that recognizing the right to life from conception to natural death is a principle that the UN could make its own, just as it did with the moratorium on the death penalty." However, Berlusconi stressed that abortion should be left out of politics.

Ferrara declared that he will run as an independent and not with Casa, saying, "I will run alone; Berlusconi doesn’t believe in this fight enough."

Since 1978, abortion throughout the first trimester of gestation has been legal in Italy. After three months, the procedure is only allowed when the pregnancy is deemed a "grave danger" to the woman’s life.

On Feb. 13, Veltroni stepped down as mayor of Rome to focus on the national election. According to Italian law, mayors of cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants are not allowed to run for legislative elections. Veltroni referred to his experience as mayor as "seven years of wonderful work, one of the most beautiful human experiences that I’ve ever had."

Also on Feb. 13, Berlusconi launched his campaign with a television appearance, saying, “I may be 71 but I feel and act as if I’m 35. (...) It seems that Silvio Berlusconi is indispensable.”

On Feb. 25, Veltroni said he would reduce the number of lower house seats from 630 to 470, and the number of upper house seats from 315 to 100 if he forms the next government. The PD leader said he wants the Chamber of Deputies to handle national legislation and the Senate to be in charge of regional issues, adding, “Our idea is that of a faster country, free from vetoes and other constraints.”

On Mar. 10, Prodi announced his complete retirement from public service, saying, “I am finished with Italian politics and possibly also with politics in general. The world is full of opportunities, there is always something new to do.”

On Mar. 12, Franco Pavoncello, president of the John Cabot University of Rome, commented on Veltroni’s attempt to run as the leader of one party—as opposed to leading a broad coalition—and assured that his bid will alter Italian politics in the future, declaring, “Veltroni’s decision to run alone is the most important novelty introduced in the Italian political system in many years.”

On Mar. 13, during a television show, Berlusconi was asked by a young woman how couples without a permanent job can obtain a mortgage or start a family. Berlusconi replied: “This is the advice that as a father I take the liberty of giving: you should perhaps look (to marry) Berlusconi’s son, or somebody else who doesn’t have such problems. (...) With that smile of yours, you could even get away with it.”

Also on Mar. 13, Veltroni discussed his views on job creation, saying, “My response wouldn’t have been ‘marry well’, but that no boy or girl should earn less than 1,000 or 1,100 euros per month. (...) We need to use taxes to help companies that stabilize, and discourage those who use job insecurity as a form of unfair competition.”

On Mar. 15, Veltroni promised to dramatically cut public spending and Italy’s debt if elected. Berlusconi commented on his speech afterwards, saying he agrees with his opponent on those two initiatives and declaring, “I don’t know what more to say. (...) This morning you had Mr. Veltroni explain my programme.”

On Mar. 17, Italy of Values leader and infrastructure minister Antonio di Pietro criticized the bid for state-owned airline Alitalia tendered by Air France-KLM, saying, “This is a proposal aimed only at creating profit for the bidder, that is harmful for the company, for the workers and for the country. Above all, the plan presented by the French humiliates an important hub like (the) Malpensa (airport).”

On Mar. 20, Italy’s Communications Authority fined Mediaset—a television broadcaster owned by Berlusconi—close to $155,000 U.S. for providing unfair coverage of the upcoming election. Two other stations—including the state-owned RAI—were warned about possible sanctions if they fail to adjust their reporting. While the agency did not specify which candidate is being favoured by each outlet, it has been suggested that Mediaset focuses on Berlusconi most of the time, while RAI apparently favours Veltroni.

In March, Berlusconi nominated Giuseppe Ciarrapico—a regional newspaper publisher and self-proclaimed fascist and admirer of Benito Mussolini—as a Senate candidate for his party, drawing criticism even from within the PdL ranks. Berlusconi defended his decision, saying, “We are in this election campaign to win it. Mr. Ciarrapico owns some important titles and it would help us if they weren’t hostile to our cause.”

Veltroni responded to the announcement, saying, “The aim is to win the elections come what may—so if you own lots of newspapers, then get on board. It doesn’t matter what your politics are—all you need is to be a media boss.”

Voting took place on Apr. 13 and Apr. 14. Preliminary exit polls suggested a victory for the Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL). Veltroni conceded defeat, saying, “The result is clear. The centre-right will govern. (...) As is the custom in all Western democracies, I telephoned Berlusconi to acknowledge his victory and wish him good luck in his work.”

Final results gave the Silvio Berlusconi coalition—encompassing the PdL, Northern League (LN), and the Movement for Autonomy (MPA)—344 seats in the lower house, and 174 seats in the upper house.

On Apr. 30, Italy’s outgoing government posting the income of every Italian citizen for the year 2005 on the Internet. PdL senator Mario Ferrara expressed dismay, saying, “This is a vendetta because [former tax minister Vincenzo Visco] has been voted out of power. Not even George Orwell could have imagined this.”

On May 8, Berlusconi was sworn in as Italy’s prime minister. His cabinet features economy minister Giulio Tremonti, foreign minister Franco Frattini, defence minister Ignazio La Russa, interior minister Roberto Maroni, and welfare minister Maurizio Sacconi.

Political Players

President: Giorgio Napolitano
Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister): Silvio Berlusconi - PdL

An electoral college elects the president to a seven-year term. The leader of the governing party or coalition is the Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

Legislative Branch: The bicameral Parlamento (Parliament) is composed of the 630-member Camera dei Deputati (Chamber of Deputies) and the 232-member Senato della Repubblica (Senate of the Republic). With the exception of 11 senators who hold their positions for life, all members are elected to five-year terms.

Results of Last Election:

Chamber of Deputies - Apr. 13 and 14, 2008

	Vote%	Seats
Silvio Berlusconi Coalition	46.81%	344
Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL)	37.39%	276
Northern League (LN)	8.30%	60
Movement for Autonomy (MPA)	1.13%	8
Walter Veltroni Coalition	37.54%	246
Democratic Party (PD)	33.17%	217
Italy of Values (Lista di Pietro)	4.37%	29
Union of the Centre	5.62%	3
Left Rainbow (SA)	3.08%	--
The Right (La Destra) - Tricolour Flame (FT)	2.43%	--
Socialist Party (PS)	0.98%	--
South Tyrolean People’s Party (SV)	0.41%	--
Autonomy Liberty Democracy (ALD)	0.08%	--
Associative Movement Italians Abroad (MAIE)	--	1
Other parties	3.11%	--

Senate - Apr. 13 and 14, 2008

	Vote%	Seats
Silvio Berlusconi Coalition	47.32%	174
Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL)	38.17%	147
Northern League (LN)	8.06%	25
Movement for Autonomy (MPA)	1.08%	2
Walter Veltroni Coalition	38.01%	132
Democratic Party (PD)	33.70%	118
Italy of Values (Lista di Pietro)	4.32%	14
Union of the Centre	5.69%	3
Left Rainbow (SA)	3.21%	--
The Right (La Destra) - Tricolour Flame (FT)	2.10%	--
Socialist Party (PS)	0.87%	--
Other parties	2.78%	6

 

Archive Search

Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Election Tracker archive.

Advanced Search