List of successful votes of no confidence in Italian governments

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.[1] 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.[2]

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[3] 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[4] Motion of confidence 199-201
2
Lanza government 25 June 1873[5] Motion of confidence 156-86
70
First Cairoli government 11 December 1878[6] Motion of confidence 189-263
74
Third Depretis government 3 July 1879[7] Motion of no confidence 251-159
92
Third Cairoli government 7 April 1881[8] Government-backed motion to change the order of business 192-171
21
Second Crispi government 31 January 1891[9] 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[10] Motion of confidence 185-193
8
Third Di Rudinì government 3 December 1897[11] Government-backed Bill on Career Advancement in the Royal Italian Army Unknown[a]
Saracco government 6 February 1901[12] Amendment to motion 318-102
216
First Fortis government 17 December 1905[13] Conversion into law of the Decree on the Modus Vivendi with Spain 145-293
148
Second Fortis government 2 February 1906[14] Motion of confidence 188-288
100
First Sonnino government 17 May 1906[15] 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[16] Motion of confidence 96-314
218
Orlando government 19 June 1919[17] Government-backed motion to sit in private 68-261
193
First Facta government 19 July 1922[18] Motion of confidence 103-288
185
Grand Council of Fascism Mussolini government 24 July 1943[19][20][21] 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

  1. ^ The number of votes for and against the proposal was not entered into the journal.

References

  1. ^ "Lo Statuto Albertino" (PDF). The official website of the Presidency of the Italian Republic.
  2. ^ "La Storia del Senato".
  3. ^ "Tornata 19 dicembre 1865" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Tornata del 22 dicembre 1867" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Tornata del 25 giugno 1873" (PDF).
  6. ^ "Tornata dell'11 dicembre 1878" (PDF).
  7. ^ "2° tornata del 3 luglio 1879" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Tornata del 7 aprile 1881" (PDF).
  9. ^ "Tornata del 31 gennaio 1891" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Tornata del 5 maggio 1892" (PDF).
  11. ^ "Tornata del 3 dicembre 1897" (PDF).
  12. ^ "Tornata del 6 febbraio 1901" (PDF).
  13. ^ "Tornata del 17 dicembre 1905" (PDF).
  14. ^ "Tornata del 2 febbraio 1906" (PDF).
  15. ^ "Tornata del 17 maggio 1906" (PDF).
  16. ^ "Tornata del 25 ottobre 1917" (PDF).
  17. ^ "Tornata del 19 giugno 1919" (PDF).
  18. ^ "Tornata del 19 luglio 1922" (PDF).
  19. ^ Bianchi (1963), p. 609
  20. ^ Grandi (1983), p. 268
  21. ^ "Benito Mussolini falls from power".