First Prodi government

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First Prodi government
Flag of Italy.svg
53rd Cabinet of Italy
Romano Prodi 96.jpg
Date formed18 May 1996 (1996-05-18)
Date dissolved21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) (887 days)
People and organisations
Head of state Oscar Luigi Scalfaro
Head of government Romano Prodi
No. of ministers22 (incl. Prime Minister)
Ministers removed1
Total no. of members23 (incl. Prime Minister)
Member party PDS, PPI, RI, FdV, UD
External support:
PRC
Status in legislature Centre-left coalition
Opposition party FI, AN, LN, CCD, CDU
Opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi
History
Election 1996 election
Legislature term XIII Legislature (1996 – 2001)
Predecessor Dini government
Successor First D'Alema government

The first Prodi government was the 53rd government of Italy. It held office from 18 May 1996 until 21 October 1998.

Contents

Formation

Official photo of the Prodi's government after the oath at the Quirinal Palace Giuramento Governo Prodi I.jpg
Official photo of the Prodi's government after the oath at the Quirinal Palace

On 21 April 1996, the Olive Tree won 1996 general election in alliance with the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC), making Romano Prodi Prime Minister of Italy. The Olive Tree's main component was the Democratic Party of the Left, which contained the bulk of the former Italian Communist Party. The PDS' Walter Veltroni, who ran in ticket with Prodi in a long electoral campaign, served as Deputy Prime Minister, and 15 other PDS ministers joined him in cabinet alongside 10 PDS junior ministers. It was the first time that (former) Communists had taken part in government since 1947.

Besides the external support of PRC, the coalition received the support also of some minor parties: the Italian Republican Party (PRI, social-liberal), The Network (social-democratic), the South Tyrolean People's Party (regionalist and Christian democratic) and some other minor parties which later merged with PDS.

The average age of the ministers was 55.9 years and 14 ministers has parliamentary experience. [1] The number of female ministers was three. [1]

Fall

The government fell in 1998 when the Communist Refoundation Party withdrew its support. This led to the resignation of Prodi and to the formation of a new government led by Massimo D'Alema as Prime Minister.

Party breakdown

Composition

PortraitOfficeNameTermPartyUndersecretaries
Romano Prodi 96.jpg Prime Minister Romano Prodi 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Independent Enrico Luigi Micheli (PPI)
Arturo Parisi (Ind.) [lower-alpha 1]
Giorgio Bogi (SR)
(until 14 March 1997)
Walter Veltroni 1996.jpg Deputy Prime Minister Walter Veltroni 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left
Lamberto Dini 1996.jpg Minister of Foreign Affairs Lamberto Dini 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Italian Renewal Piero Fassino (PDS)
Rino Serri (MCU)
Patrizia Toia (PPI)
Giorgio Napolitano 1996.jpg Minister of the Interior Giorgio Napolitano 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Franco Barberi (Ind.)
Fabrizio Abbate (PPI)
Giannicola Sinisi (PPI)
Adriana Vigneri (PDS)
Lucio Testa (RI)
Angelo Giorgianni (RI)
(until 13 March 1998)
Giovanni Maria Flick.jpg Minister of Grace and Justice Giovanni Maria Flick 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Independent Giuseppe Ayala (UD)
Franco Corleone (FdV)
Antonino Mirone (Patto)
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi cropped (1991).jpg Minister of Treasury, Budget and Economic Planning Carlo Azeglio Ciampi 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Independent Laura Pennacchi (PDS)
Giorgio Macciotta (PDS)
Isaia Sales (PDS)
Roberto Pinza (PPI)
Filippo Cavazzuti (PDS)
Dino Piero Giarda (Ind.)
Vincenzo Visco (1996).jpg Minister of Finance Vincenzo Visco 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Giovanni Marongiu (RI)
Fausto Vigevani (PDS)
Pierluigi Castellani (PPI)
(since 21 Nov. 1996)
Beniamino Andreatta 1996.jpg Minister of Defence Beniamino Andreatta 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Italian People's Party Massimo Brutti (PPI)
Gianni Rivera (Patto)
Luigi Berlinguer 2.jpg Minister of Education, University, Scientific and Technological Research Luigi Berlinguer 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Nadia Masini (PDS)
Carla Rocchi (FdV)
Albertina Soliani (PPI)
Antonio Di Pietro (1997).jpg Minister of Public Works Antonio Di Pietro 18 May 1996 – 20 November 1996 Independent Antonio Bargone (PDS)
Gianni Francesco Mattioli (FdV)
Italy politic personality icon.svg Paolo Costa 20 November 1996 – 21 October 1998 Independent
Michele Pinto 1996.jpg Minister of Agricultural Resources Michele Pinto 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Italian People's Party Roberto Borroni (PDS)
Claudio Burlando (1996).jpg Minister of Transport and Navigation Claudio Burlando 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Giuseppe Albertini (PDS)
Giuseppe Soriero (PDS)
Antonio Maccanico daticamera 1996.jpg Minister of Post and Telecommunications Antonio Maccanico 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Union Vincenzo Maria Vita (PDS)
Michele Lauria (PPI)
Pier Luigi Bersani daticamera 2001.jpg Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftsmanship Pier Luigi Bersani 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Umberto Carpi (PDS)
Salvatore Ladu (PPI)
Tiziano Treu (1996).jpg Minister of Labour and Social Security Tiziano Treu 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Italian Renewal Antonio Pizzinato (PDS)
Federica Gasparrini (RI)
Elena Montecchi (PDS)
(until 23 Feb. 1998)
Alessandro Garilli (Ind.)
(since 20 March 1998)
Augusto Fantozzi.jpg Minister of Foreign Trade Augusto Fantozzi 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Italian Renewal Antonello Cabras (UD)
Rosy Bindi daticamera.jpg Minister of Health Rosy Bindi 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Italian People's Party Bruno Viserta Costantini (PDS)
Monica Bettoni Brandani (PDS)
Walter Veltroni 1996.jpg Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities Walter Veltroni 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Willer Bordon (AD)
Alberto La Volpe (SI)
Edo Ronchi 1996.jpg Minister of the Environment Edo Ronchi 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Federation of the Greens Valerio Calzolaio (PDS)
Franco Bassanini (1996).jpg Minister of Public Function and Regional Affairs
(without portfolio)
Franco Bassanini 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Sergio Zoppi (PPI)
Ernesto Bettinelli (Ind.)
(since 13 Feb. 1997)
Giorgio Bogi.jpg Minister for Parliamentary Relations
(without portfolio)
Giorgio Bogi 14 March 1997 – 21 October 1998 Republican Left Elena Montecchi (PDS)
(since 23 Feb. 1998)
Anna Finocchiaro (1996).jpg Minister for Equal Opportunities
(without portfolio)
Anna Finocchiaro 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left
Livia Turco (1996).jpg Minister of Social Solidarity
(without portfolio)
Livia Turco 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left
  1. Delegated to information and publishing.

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References

  1. 1 2 De Giorgi, Elisabetta; Francesco Marangoni (2009). "The First Year of Berlusconi's Fourth Government: Formation, Characteristics and Activities" (PDF). Bulletin of Italian Politics. 1 (1): 87–109. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-30. Retrieved 2013-09-18.

Sources