This is a list of successful votes of no confidence in Italian governments, which resulted in their resignation or dismissal. It includes both governments who served under the Kingdom of Italy and governments who served under the Republic of Italy. The first such vote took place on 19 December 1865, while the most recent one took place on 28 January 2008.
Practice
Kingdom of Italy
The Kingdom of Italy was a constitutional monarchy, in which the Council of Ministers, which exercised executive power, was appointed by the King and required parliamentary confidence in order to remain in office. Although the Italian Parliament was bicameral, being composed of both a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies (with bills needing the approval of both before becoming law), by convention the government only needed the support of the latter.
Republic of Italy
Under the Constitution of Italy, the government is appointed by the President and can only remain in office as long as it enjoys the confidence of both houses of Parliament.
List
Kingdom of Italy
Legislative body | Government in office | Date | Subject of motion | Result Majority against the government |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chamber of Deputies | Second La Marmora government | 19 December 1865 | Motion inviting the government not to enforce the Decree on the Treasury until its conversion into law by Parliament | 196-1 195 |
First Menabrea government | 22 December 1867 | Motion of confidence | 199-201 2 | |
Lanza government | 25 June 1873 | Motion of confidence | 156-86 70 | |
First Cairoli government | 11 December 1878 | Motion of confidence | 189-263 74 | |
Third Depretis government | 3 July 1879 | Motion of no confidence | 251-159 92 | |
Third Cairoli government | 7 April 1881 | Government-backed motion to change the order of business | 192-171 21 | |
Second Crispi government | 31 January 1891 | Government-backed motion to begin consideration of the Bill on Tariffs and Taxes on Alcoholic Substances | 186-193 7 | |
First Di Rudinì government | 5 May 1892 | Motion of confidence | 185-193 8 | |
Third Di Rudinì government | 3 December 1897 | Government-backed Bill on Career Advancement in the Royal Italian Army | Unknown | |
Saracco government | 6 February 1901 | Amendment to motion | 318-102 216 | |
First Fortis government | 17 December 1905 | Conversion into law of the Decree on the Modus Vivendi with Spain | 145-293 148 | |
Second Fortis government | 2 February 1906 | Motion of confidence | 188-288 100 | |
First Sonnino government | 17 May 1906 | Motion to reject the Government's proposal to set a deadline for consideration in committee of the Bill on Southern Railways | 179-152 27 | |
Boselli government | 25 October 1917 | Motion of confidence | 96-314 218 | |
Orlando government | 19 June 1919 | Government-backed motion to sit in private | 68-261 193 | |
First Facta government | 19 July 1922 | Motion of confidence | 103-288 185 | |
Grand Council of Fascism | Mussolini government | 24 July 1943 | Motion calling on the King to restore the constitutional regime | 19-8 11 |
Republic of Italy
Assembly | Government in office | Date | Subject of motion | Result Majority against the government |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chamber of Deputies | Seventh De Gasperi government | 28 July 1953 | Motion of confidence | 263-282 19 |
First Fanfani government | 30 January 1954 | Motion of confidence | 260-303 43 | |
Senate of the Republic | First Andreotti government | 26 February 1972 | Motion of confidence | 152-158 6 |
Fifth Andreotti government | 30 March 1979 | Motion of confidence | 149-150 1 | |
Chamber of Deputies | Sixth Fanfani government | 28 April 1987 | Motion of confidence | 131-240 109 |
First Prodi government | 9 October 1998 | Motion of confidence | 312-313 1 | |
Senate of the Republic | Second Prodi government | 24 January 2008 | Motion of confidence | 156-161 5 |
Notes
- The number of votes for and against the proposal was not entered into the journal.
References
- "Lo Statuto Albertino" (PDF). The official website of the Presidency of the Italian Republic.
- "La Storia del Senato".
- "Tornata 19 dicembre 1865" (PDF).
- "Tornata del 22 dicembre 1867" (PDF).
- "Tornata del 25 giugno 1873" (PDF).
- "Tornata dell'11 dicembre 1878" (PDF).
- "2° tornata del 3 luglio 1879" (PDF).
- "Tornata del 7 aprile 1881" (PDF).
- "Tornata del 31 gennaio 1891" (PDF).
- "Tornata del 5 maggio 1892" (PDF).
- "Tornata del 3 dicembre 1897" (PDF).
- "Tornata del 6 febbraio 1901" (PDF).
- "Tornata del 17 dicembre 1905" (PDF).
- "Tornata del 2 febbraio 1906" (PDF).
- "Tornata del 17 maggio 1906" (PDF).
- "Tornata del 25 ottobre 1917" (PDF).
- "Tornata del 19 giugno 1919" (PDF).
- "Tornata del 19 luglio 1922" (PDF).
- Bianchi (1963), p. 609
- Grandi (1983), p. 268
- "Benito Mussolini falls from power".