Italy - News Archive

Italy Parliamentary 2013

Posted: 02/24/2013
Italians voted in parliamentary elections, held on February 24, 2013.  Major coalitions in the race included former Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI’s Center-Right Coalition/ L'alleanza di Centro-Destra, Mario MONTI’s centrist Civic Choice / Scelta Civica, comedian Beppe GRILLO’s anti-status quo Five Star Movement/ Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S), and the center-left leaning Italy. Common Good/ Italia. Bene Comune led by Pier Luigi BERSANI. In the 630-seat lower house (the Chamber of Deputies), the party with the most votes wins 55 percent of the chamber’s seats. BERSANI’s Italy. Common Good won 29.55 percent of the vote (340 seats), The Center-Right Coalition followed with 29.18 percent (124 seats), the Five Star Movement won 25.55 percent (108 seats), and Civic Choice won 10.56 percent (45 seats).  In the350-seat Senate, although BERLUSCONI’s Center Right Coalition gained the most seats (116) no party was able to gain a majority.  In a population of 46, 905, 154 registered voters, turnout was high at 75.19 percent.

Source: ElectionGuide

Italians deal blow to Berlusconi in referendum

Posted: 06/13/2011
Voters in Italy on Monday rejected a plan by Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI to return the country to nuclear power. In a special referendum, Italians voted on four measures, which also included questions regarding water privatization and trial immunity for ministers. Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI urged Italians to abstain from voting in the referendum in an effort to kill the measures; an absolute majority of voters were required to turnout in order for the results to be binding. Despite this call, however, almost 57 percent of Italians went to the polls.

Source: ElectionGuide

Referendum On Italian Electoral System Fails

Posted: 06/23/2009
Italy will keep its hybrid electoral system after a referendum last failed to achieve quorum. Referendum questions in Italy may not pass unless more than 50 percent of voters go to the polls. According to official results, turnout was 23 percent. Had the three questions passed, the parties winning pluralities of votes each would be awarded 55 percent of seats in both the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, and candidates for the Chamber would be prohibited from standing in multiple constituencies. Under the current electoral system, the pre-election coalition of parties winning a plurality of votes is guaranteed 55 percent of seats in the respective chamber.

Source: ElectionGuide

Italy Re-Elects Berlusconi and Allies in Parliamentary Elections

Posted: 04/18/2008
Silvio Berlusconi, three-time Italian Prime Minister, and the People of Freedom movement and its allies have swept to victory in Italy’s April 13 and 14 elections.� Out of 315 seats in the Senate (upper house), Berlusconi’s party and allies captured 174 of the 315 elected seats.� Opposition leader and former mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni, led the Democratic Party (a center-left coalition) to win 132 seats.� In the Chamber of Deputies (lower house), Berlusconi took 344 of 630 seats, and Veltroni took 246. The Union of the Center won three seats in the Senate and 36 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Oyunlar Oyna indir film izle finanzien artikleilahi,ilahiler sagopa kajmerdirek izlelidapornodiyet çeÅŸitleriyemek tarifleri lida diyet zayıflama r10seoogle

Source: ElectionGuide

Berlusconi seeks third term in Italian election

Posted: 04/10/2008
ROME (Reuters) - Billionaire Silvio Berlusconi is hoping for a decisive victory over centre-left rival Walter Veltroni in Italy's parliamentary election to boost the next government's chances of tackling a social and economic malaise. Oyunlar Oyna indir film izle finanzien artikleilahi,ilahiler sagopa kajmerdirek izlelidapornodiyet çeÅŸitleriyemek tarifleri lida diyet zayıflama r10seoogle

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Berlusconi's sexism chafes as Italian vote looms

Posted: 04/08/2008
ROME (Reuters) - Silvio Berlusconi, who has been biting his tongue for most of the April 13-14 election campaign, said on Tuesday his opponents on the left had no taste in women. Oyunlar Oyna indir film izle finanzien artikleilahi,ilahiler sagopa kajmerdirek izlelidapornodiyet çeÅŸitleriyemek tarifleri lida diyet zayıflama r10seoogle

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

The World: The Atheist Urging Italy to Get Religion

Posted: 04/05/2008
In the coming Italian elections, the most gripping personality isnâ??t a front-runner. Meet Giuliano Ferrara, Italyâ??s most operatic and most mercurial intellectual provocateur. Oyunlar Oyna indir film izle finanzien artikleilahi,ilahiler sagopa kajmerdirek izlelidapornodiyet çeÅŸitleriyemek tarifleri lida diyet zayıflama r10seoogle

Read full story. Source: NYT > Europe

Italian Church jumps into election fray over abortion

Posted: 02/25/2008
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Catholic Church has accused the national medical association of playing politics over abortion, joining a passionate debate in the run up to a parliamentary election in April. Oyunlar Oyna indir film izle finanzien artikleilahi,ilahiler sagopa kajmerdirek izlelidapornodiyet çeÅŸitleriyemek tarifleri lida diyet zayıflama r10seoogle

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

They're off, again

Posted: 02/07/2008
An election is called for April 13th-14th. IN ITALIAN politics, things happen with either bewildering suddenness or excruciating slowness. Oyunlar Oyna indir film izle finanzien artikleilahi,ilahiler sagopa kajmerdirek izlelidapornodiyet çeÅŸitleriyemek tarifleri lida diyet zayıflama r10seoogle

Read full story. Source: Europe

Italy calls April election with Berlusconi in lead

Posted: 02/06/2008
ROME (Reuters) - Italy called a snap election for mid-April on Wednesday, heralding the possible return to power of media magnate Silvio Berlusconi who has a solid poll lead over the collapsed centre-left coalition. Oyunlar Oyna indir film izle finanzien artikleilahi,ilahiler sagopa kajmerdirek izlelidapornodiyet çeÅŸitleriyemek tarifleri lida diyet zayıflama r10seoogle

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Italy's Snap Elections

Posted: 02/06/2008
Italian President Giorgio NAPOLITANO dissolved parliament on Wednesday setting the stage for national elections on April 13-14, three years ahead of schedule. The snap elections were called in response to the collapse of Prime Minister Romano PRODI’s government last month after losing a confidence vote in parliament. The defection of minor parties contributed to the instability of the ruling center-left coalition led by PRODI. Elections were announced despite the failure of Italy’s political factions to revise the flawed electoral law that gives disproportionate power to small parties. Conservative former Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI is seen as a front runner in the upcoming election. He will face Walter VELTRONI, the mayor of Rome, who represents the center-left coalition after PRODI declined to run for re-election. Oyunlar Oyna indir film izle finanzien artikleilahi,ilahiler sagopa kajmerdirek izlelidapornodiyet çeÅŸitleriyemek tarifleri lida diyet zayıflama r10seoogle

Source: ElectionGuide

Italy's ex-PM urges snap election

Posted: 01/29/2008
Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi calls for early elections to end the country's political crisis. Oyunlar Oyna indir film izle finanzien artikleilahi,ilahiler sagopa kajmerdirek izlelidapornodiyet çeÅŸitleriyemek tarifleri lida diyet zayıflama r10seoogle

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Italian PM faces confidence vote

Posted: 02/28/2007
The Italian Senate prepares to hold a vote of confidence in Romano Prodi's nine-month-old government.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Italian president reviews new Prodi coalition pact

Posted: 02/23/2007
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's president began a new round of talks on Friday to see whether Romano Prodi can stay on as prime minister and guarantee a stable center-left government to end the country's political crisis.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Move to seal Italian cabinet deal

Posted: 02/23/2007
Italian leaders are locked in talks on a deal allowing Romano Prodi to stay as PM in a bid to end a political crisis.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Italians reject reform

Posted: 06/27/2006
In a national referendum on June 25-26, Italian voters rejected reforms that would have granted the Prime Minister powers to dissolve the parliament, to appoint and dismiss ministers, and to oversee government policy. The reforms were supported by former Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI and his centre-right government, and opposed by the current centre-left government led by Romano PRODI. Provisional results show that 61.7% of voters opposed the reforms while 38.3 % approved them. Over half of the 47 million registered voters participated in the two-day referendum.

Source: ElectionGuide

Prodi bloc ahead in local election: poll

Posted: 05/29/2006
ROME (Reuters) - Prime Minister Romano Prodi's centre-left bloc, in its first test since winning April general elections, looked set on Monday to sweep at least three major cities in mayoral races, according to a poll after the vote.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Prodi faces confidence vote

Posted: 05/19/2006
Read full story for latest details.

Read full story. Source: CNN.com - Europe

Prodi names new Italy government

Posted: 05/17/2006
Italy's incoming Prime Minister Romano Prodi names his new government after giving a list of ministers to the president.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Prodi prepares government after presidential win

Posted: 05/11/2006
ROME (Reuters) - Boosted by the election of his candidate for state president, incoming Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Thursday turned his attention to preparing a government to tackle Italy's economic woes and heal political divisions.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Napolitano elected Italy's president: vote count

Posted: 05/10/2006
Lawmakers applauded as the votes for Napolitano, read by the lower house speaker, passed the 505-vote mark, the minimum required for the centre left's candidate to be elected head of state.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Italy votes again for president as Prodi hopeful

Posted: 05/10/2006
ROME (Reuters) - Incoming Prime Minister Romano Prodi said his centre-left coalition aimed to elect Italy's first former communist as president on Wednesday and be asked to form a government next week, ending a month of political limbo.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Italy elects Giorgio Napolitano as President

Posted: 05/10/2006
Giorgio Napolitano, the candidate endorsed by Romano Prodi's Union coalition, was elected President of the Republic on May 10. Under Italian law, the President is elected by a college of 1,010 grand electors which brings together all members of the Parliament and representatives of 20 local regional governments. In order to be elected, a candidate needs a two-thirds majority (673 votes) during the first three rounds of voting or a simple majority (505 votes) in subsequent rounds. The voting began on May 8 and ended two days later, when Giorgio Napolitano won a majority of the votes in the fourth ballot. This is an important victory for Romano Prodi, who could not form a government without a formal mandate from the President. 

Source: ElectionGuide

Italy MPs vote for new president

Posted: 05/08/2006
Italy faces a new political battle as MPs prepare to vote for a new president to replace Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Berlusconi rejects Prodi's man for Italy president

Posted: 05/05/2006
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's outgoing Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi rejected the incoming government's preferred presidential candidate on Friday, dashing hopes for a quick appointment to the country's top job.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Berlusconi hands in resignation

Posted: 05/02/2006
Berlusconi's resignation starts the countdown to the formation of a new government headed by centre-left leader Romano Prodi.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Prodi faces tough test as parliament opens

Posted: 04/28/2006
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's upper house of parliament began voting on Friday for a new speaker in the first test of authority for prime-minister-in-waiting Romano Prodi.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Italy's president says will not serve second term

Posted: 04/18/2006
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's 85-year-old president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi said he will not serve a second term in office when his mandate expires next month, adding further uncertainty to the country's poisoned political climate.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Berlusconi allies cast doubt on his fraud claim

Posted: 04/13/2006
ROME (Reuters) - Allies of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi cast doubt on Thursday over his accusations that the Italian general election was rigged and one coalition partner said a review of the ballot would not change the result.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Tight victory for Prodi's coalition in 2006 elections

Posted: 04/12/2006
Results released one day after the conclusion of the April 9-10 general elections gave Romano Prodi’s center-left coalition a majority of seats in both chambers of the Parliament. In the Chamber of Deputies, Romano Prodi’s center-left Union won a very tight victory with 49.8% of the votes against Berlusconi’s 49.7%. Despite the close result, changes to the election law made December last year dictate that the winning coalition automatically receive 340 of the 630 seats in the Chamber, the runner up obtaining 277 seats. In the Senate, Romano Prodi’s coalition secured 158 seats against 156 won by Berlusconi’s House of Freedoms.Prime Minister Berlusconi refused to concede a defeat and demanded a review of ballots alleging irregularities, particularly in the votes of the 3.5 million Italians living abroad.

Source: ElectionGuide

Prodi hails Italy poll 'victory'

Posted: 04/11/2006
Italy's centre-left leader Romano Prodi claims a slim poll victory but Silvio Berlusconi's bloc disputes the results.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Italians in second day of voting

Posted: 04/10/2006
Italians return to polls in the second day of elections that could see the ousting of leader Silvio Berlusconi.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Last day of campaigning before Italy election

Posted: 04/07/2006
ROME (Reuters) - Italian politicians on Friday campaigned for the last day before a parliamentary election on April 9-10 with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, lagging in the polls, battling to stave off defeat.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Insults fly in Italy poll debate

Posted: 04/03/2006
Italy's PM Silvio Berlusconi and challenger Romano Prodi trade insults in a televised debate ahead of Sunday's election.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Berlusconi, Prodi, count down to final debate

Posted: 04/03/2006
ROME (Reuters) - Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, fighting for an upset in next week's Italian election, faces off against rival Romano Prodi for the last time on Monday night in a feverish attempt to win over undecided voters.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Prodi in TV debate 'points win'

Posted: 03/15/2006
Read full story for latest details.

Read full story. Source: CNN.com - Europe

Italy leaders clash in TV debate

Posted: 03/14/2006
Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi and his general election opponent Romano Prodi square off in a live TV debate.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Italy's Referendum Extended to Promote a Higher Turnout

Posted: 06/16/2003
Voters went to the polls on June 15 to vote on a referendum on two provisions. One of the provisions called for the easement of power transmitters, which include permitting annexation of properties that have power transmitters such as radar or repeaters and to allow homeowners to negotiate with the electric companies in terms of having their property used to house transmitters. The second provision called for altering the labor reinstatement law, which would allow employees who were unfairly terminated to be reinstated to their jobs. Based on government reports, only 17.5% of Italy’s 47 million voters participated in the referendum which has been extended to June 16 to promote a higher turnout. If a 50% threshold is not reached, the referendum will be deemed invalid.

Source: ElectionGuide

Italy Announces Results of Referendum

Posted: 10/12/2001
Voters approved a referendum (64.2% Yes, 35.8% No) to grant greater powers to local governments in the fiscal, education, and health sectors.

Source: ElectionGuide

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