The Political Transition in Italy

AuthorDi Cosimo, G. - Cossiri, A.
PositionFull Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Macerata - Researcher with tenure in Public Law, University of Macerata
Pages121-126
Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov
Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 6 (55) No. 2 - 2013
THE POLITICAL TRANSITION IN ITALY
G. DI COSIMO1 A. COSSIRI2
Abstract: Italy is in a transitional phase to a new party system, which will
probably lead to a different method of institutional functioning. This essay
illustrates the transition from the Berlusconi Government to Monti
Government end after to the “Grand coalition” Government. This step opens
an unprecedented phase of the Italian democracy which seems to mark a
break with the characteristics that the political and institutional life had
taken in recent years. Although it is too early to describe the characteristics
of the new phase, we can highlight some points which justify the assessment
of the discontinuity. Among the main features of institutional life in the era of
Berlusconism, can be mentioned the charismatic leadership, the context of
heightened corporatism of the political class, the mortification of the
Parliament and the transfer of its legislative powers to the Government, the
constant aggression against Constitution and Fundamental Rights, the
attempt to impose ethical views by the majority
Key words: Italy, Berlusconism, Italian democracy.
1 Full Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Macerata.
2 Researcher with tenure in Public Law, University of Macerata.
1. Stalemate
As a result of the last general election in
Italy, no coalition held an outrigh t
majority in the new legislature. T he
election in February produced a hung
parliament. The two coalitions that
competed for the leadership of the
Country in recent years basically
achieved the same result, around 30% of
votes. More precisely, the center-left
coalition had more support than the
center-right and won the majority
premium in one of the two legislative
bodies, the Chamber of Deputies.
However, thanks to the current electoral
law, no coalition alone possesses the
absolute majority of seats in the Senate,
where the premium is applied regionally.
Despite having fewer votes the center-
right prevailed in some important regions
such as Lombardy, Sicily and Campania
to which are assigned a consistent
number of senators.
This situation led to the impossibility of
forming a new Government (since the
Constitution requires the confidence of
both chambers to form a government). A
contribution to the stalemate was given by
the success of a new party, the Five Star
Movement (Movimento5stelle), which
topped the election with 25% of votes and
refused to ally with any of the traditional
parties., because it considers very negative
the experience of the so-called bipolarism
dominated by competition between centre-
right and centre-left.
Ultimately, after the elections, the three
major players, the two coalitions and the

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