Political outline

Executive Power

The Prime Minister is the head of the government and holds the executive power, which includes the implementation of the law and the running of the everday business of the country. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Parliament, on the basis of the support of the majority. He has a five year term of office. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the Prime Minister and approved by the President.

Legislative Power

The legislative power in Italy is bicameral. The Parliament consists of two houses: the Senate (Senato della Repubblica) which has 315 members and the Chamber of deputies (Camera dei deputati) which has 630. The members of the two houses are directly elected, by universal suffrage, by a complex electoral system (amended in 2005) combining proportional representation with a majority vote. The executive branch of government depends directly or indirectly on the support of parliament, often expressed by a vote of confidence. The Prime Minister cannot dissolve Parliament. Italian citizens enjoy considerable political rights.

Main political parties

There are very many parties in Italy and none of them can claim power alone. Because of this, parties have to come to an agreement to form coalition governments.
The country's political parties align themselves in two broad coalitions:

1)The Union : center-left including mainly political parties like the Democrat Party (Partido Democratico) led by Walter Veltroni, the Party Italia dei Valori (IdV), led by Antonio Di Pietro and the Italian Communist Party.

2) The House of Freedoms: center-right including mainly parties like the People of Freedom (Popollo Della Liberta), led by Silvio Berlusconi, the LEGA (Northern League) led by Umberto Bossi and the Movement for Autonomies (MPA), led by Raffaele Lombardo.

Current political leaders

President : Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since May 2006)
Prime Minister: Interim: Mario MONTI - Independent (since 13 November 2011)

Next election dates

Legislative elections: 2013