Second Berlusconi government

Last updated
Berlusconi II Cabinet
Flag of Italy.svg
57th Cabinet of Italy
Silvio Berlusconi 1996.jpg
Date formed11 June 2001 (2001-06-11)
Date dissolved23 April 2005 (2005-04-23) (1,413 days)
People and organisations
Head of state Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Head of government Silvio Berlusconi
No. of ministers25 (incl. Prime Minister)
Ministers removed5
Total no. of members30 (incl. Prime Minister)
Member parties FI, AN, LN, CCD, CDU
Status in legislature Centre-right coalition
Opposition parties DS, DL, PRC, UDEUR, SDI, FdV, PdCI
History
Election 2001 election
Legislature term XIV Legislature (2001 – 2006)
Incoming formation Berlusconi II Cabinet formation, 2001
Outgoing formation Berlusconi III Cabinet formation, 2005
Predecessor Second Amato government
Successor Third Berlusconi government

The second Berlusconi government was the 57th government of the Italian Republic and the first government of the XIV Legislature. It took office following the 2001 elections, and held office from 11 June 2001 until 23 April 2005, a total of 1,412 days, or 3 years, 10 months and 12 days. It held office for the longest period in the history of the Republic, and for the second longest period in the history of unified Italy since 1861 (outlasted only by the Mussolini government). During its long tenure, its composition changed significantly. Following the poor performance of the centrist parties in the Italian regional elections of 2005, most of the ministers of the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats and the New PSI resigned from the government, which was succeeded by the third Berlusconi government.

Contents

Formation

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

In 2001 Berlusconi again ran as leader of the centre-right coalition House of Freedoms (Italian : La Casa delle Libertà), which included the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats, the Northern League, the National Alliance and other minor parties. Berlusconi's success in the May 2001 general election led to him becoming Prime Minister once more, with the coalition receiving 45.4% of the vote for the Chamber of Deputies and 42.5% for the Senate.

On the television interviews programme Porta a Porta , during the last days of the electoral campaign, Berlusconi created a powerful impression on the public by undertaking to sign a so-called Contratto con gli Italiani (English: Contract with the Italians ), an idea copied outright by his advisor Luigi Crespi from the Newt Gingrich's Contract with America introduced six weeks before the 1994 US Congressional election, [1] which was widely considered to be a creative masterstroke in his 2001 campaign bid for prime ministership. In this solemn agreement, Berlusconi claimed his commitment on improving several aspects of the Italian economy and life. Firstly, he undertook to simplify the complex tax system by introducing just two tax rates (33% for those earning over 100,000 euros, and 23% for anyone earning less than that figure: anyone earning less than 11,000 euros a year would not be taxed); secondly, he promised to halve the unemployment rate; thirdly, he undertook to finance and develop a massive new public works programme. Fourthly, he promised to raise the minimum monthly pension rate to 516 euros; and fifthly, he would suppress the crime wave by introducing police officers to patrol all local zones and areas in Italy's major cities. [2] Berlusconi undertook to refrain from putting himself up for re-election in 2006 if he failed to honour at least four of these five promises.

The government obtained the confidence of the senate on 20 June 2001 with 175 votes in favour, 133 against and 5 abstentions, [3] [4] and the confidence of the Chamber of Deputies on 21 June 2001 with 351 votes in favour, 261 against and 1 abstention. [5]

The opposition parties claim Berlusconi was not able to achieve the goals he promised in his Contratto con gli Italiani. Some of his partners in government, especially the National Alliance and the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats have admitted the Government fell short of the promises made in the agreement, attributing the failure to an unforeseeable downturn in global economic conditions. Berlusconi himself has consistently asserted that he achieved all the goals of the agreement, and said his Government provided un miracolo continuo (a continuous miracle) that made all 'earlier governments pale' (by comparison). He attributed the widespread failure to recognize these achievements to a campaign of mystification and vilification in the printed media, asserting that 85% of newspapers were opposed to him. [6] Luca Ricolfi, an independent analyst, held that Berlusconi had managed to maintain only one promise out of five, the one concerning minimum pension levels. The other four promises were not, in Luca Ricolfi’s view, honoured. In particular, the undertakings on the tax simplification and the reduction of crime. [7]

Fall

The House of Freedoms did not do as well in the 2003 local elections as it did in the 2001 national elections. In common with many other European governing groups, in the 2004 elections of the European Parliament, gaining 43.37% support. Forza Italia's support was also reduced from 29.5% to 21.0% (in the 1999 European elections Forza Italia had 25.2%). As an outcome of these results the other coalition parties, whose electoral results were more satisfactory, asked Berlusconi and Forza Italia for greater influence in the government's political line.

In the 2005 regional elections (3 April/4 April 2005), the centre-left gubernatorial candidates won in 12 out of 14 regions where control of local governments and governorships was at stake. Berlusconi's coalition kept only two of the regional bodies (Lombardy and Veneto) up for re-election. Three parties, Union of Christian and Centre Democrats, National Alliance and New PSI, threatened to withdraw from the Berlusconi government. The Italian Premier, after some hesitation, then presented to the President of the Republic a request for the dissolution of his government on 20 April 2005.

Party breakdown

Beginning of term

Ministers

13
4
3
2
1
1

Ministers and other members

End of term

Ministers

11
5
3
3
2

Ministers and other members

Composition

PortraitOfficeNameTermPartyDeputy Ministers
Undersecretaries
Silvio Berlusconi 1996.jpg
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Forza Italia Undersecretaries:
Gianni Letta (Ind.)
Paolo Bonaiuti (FI)
Gianfranco Fini (2001).jpg
Deputy Prime Minister [a] Gianfranco Fini 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 National Alliance
Marco Follini 2001.jpg
Deputy Prime Minister Marco Follini 3 December 2004 – 18 April 2005 Union of Christian and Centre Democrats
Renato Ruggiero.jpg
Minister of Foreign Affairs Renato Ruggiero 11 June 2001 – 6 January 2002 Independent Undersecretaries:
Roberto Antonione (FI)
Margherita Boniver (FI)
Alfredo Mantica (AN)
Mario Baccini (UDC) [b]
(until 2 Dec. 2004)
Giampaolo Bettamio (FI)
(since 30 Dec. 2004)
Silvio Berlusconi 1996.jpg
Silvio Berlusconi
(ad interim)
6 January 2002 – 14 November 2002 Forza Italia
Franco Frattini daticamera.jpg
Franco Frattini 14 November 2002 – 18 November 2004 Forza Italia
Gianfranco Fini (2001).jpg
Gianfranco Fini 18 November 2004 – 23 April 2005 National Alliance
Claudio Scajola 2001.jpg
Minister of the Interior Claudio Scajola 11 June 2001 – 3 July 2002 Forza Italia Undersecretaries:
Maurizio Balocchi (LN)
Antonio D'Alì (FI)
Alfredo Mantovano (AN)
Carlo Taormina (FI)
(until 5 Dec. 2001)
Michele Saponara (FI)
(since 30 Dec. 2004)
Beppe Pisanu.jpg
Giuseppe Pisanu 3 July 2002 – 23 April 2005 Forza Italia
Roberto Castelli (2001).jpg
Minister of Justice Roberto Castelli 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Northern League Undersecretaries:
Jole Santelli (FI)
Giuseppe Valentino (AN)
Michele Vietti (UDC) [b]
Luigi Vitali (FI)
(since 30 Dec. 2004)
Giulio Tremonti 2.jpg
Minister of Economy and Finance [8] Giulio Tremonti 11 June 2001 – 3 July 2004 Forza Italia Deputy Ministers:
Mario Baldassarri (AN)
(since 19 Oct. 2001)
Gianfranco Micciché (FI)
(since 19 Oct. 2001)
Undersecretaries:
Maria Teresa Armosino (FI)
Manlio Contento (AN)
Daniele Molgora (LN)
Giuseppe Vegas (FI)
Mario Baldassarri (AN)
(until 19 Oct. 2001)
Gianfranco Micciché (FI)
(until 19 Oct. 2001)
Vito Tanzi (Ind.)
(until 17 July 2003)
Gianluigi Magri (UDC)
(since 4 Feb. 2003)
Silvio Berlusconi 1996.jpg
Silvio Berlusconi
(ad interim)
3 July 2004 – 16 July 2004 Forza Italia
Domenico Siniscalco 2005.jpg
Domenico Siniscalco 16 July 2004 – 23 April 2005 Independent
Antonio Marzano.jpg
Minister of Productive Activities Antonio Marzano 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Forza Italia Deputy Ministers:
Adolfo Urso (AN)
(since 19 Oct. 2001)
Undersecretaries:
Giovanni Dell'Elce (FI)
Giuseppe Galati (UDC) [b]
Mario Valducci (FI)
Adolfo Urso (AN)
(until 19 Oct. 2001)
Stefano Stefani (LN)
(until 17 July 2003)
Roberto Cota (LN)
(since 30 Dec. 2004)
Letizia Moratti in 2006 cropped (2).jpg
Minister of Education, University and Research Letizia Moratti 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Forza Italia Deputy Ministers:
Guido Possa (FI)
(since 19 Oct. 2001)
Stefano Caldoro (NPSI)
(since 14 Jan. 2005)
Undersecretaries:
Valentina Aprea (FI)
Maria Grazia Siliquini (AN)
Guido Possa (FI)
(until 19 Oct. 2001)
Stefano Caldoro (NPSI)
(since 14 Jan. 2005)
Roberto Maroni 1996.jpg
Minister of Labour and Social Security Roberto Maroni 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Northern League Undersecretaries:
Alberto Brambilla (LN)
Maurizio Sacconi (FI)
Grazia Sestini (FI)
Pasquale Viespoli (AN)
Roberto Rosso (FI)
(since 30 Dec. 2004)
Antonio Martino daticamera 2001.jpg
Minister of Defense Antonio Martino 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Forza Italia Undersecretaries:
Filippo Berselli (AN)
Francesco Bosi (UDC) [b]
Salvatore Cicu (FI)
Giuseppe Drago (UDC)
(since 30 Dec. 2004)
Gianni Alemanno 2001.jpg
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies Gianni Alemanno 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 National Alliance Undersecretaries:
Teresio Delfino (UDC) [c]
Gianpaolo Dozzo (LN)
Paolo Scarpa (FI)
Altero Matteoli datisenato 2006.jpg
Minister of the Environment Altero Matteoli 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 National Alliance Deputy Ministers:
Francesco Nucara (PRI)
(since 30 Dec. 2004)
Undersecretaries:
Roberto Tortoli (FI)
Francesco Nucara (PRI)
(until 30 Dec. 2004)
Antonio Martusciello (FI)
(until 30 Dec. 2004)
Stefano Stefani (LN)
(since 30 Dec. 2004)
Pietro Lunardi 2006.jpg
Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Pietro Lunardi 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Forza Italia Deputy Ministers:
Ugo Martinat (AN)
(since 19 Oct. 2001)
Mario Tassone (UDC) [c]
(since 19 Oct. 2001)
Undersecretaries:
Paolo Mammola (FI)
Nino Sospiri (AN)
Guido Viceconte (FI)
Giancarlo Giorgetti (LN)
(until 21 June 2001)
Ugo Martinat (AN)
(until 19 Oct. 2001)
Mario Tassone (UDC)
(until 19 Oct. 2001)
Paolo Uggè (FI)
(since 7 March 2003)
Silvano Moffa (AN)
(since 30 Dec. 2004)
Giovanni Ricevuto (NPSI)
(since 30 Dec. 2004)
Girolamo Sirchia.jpg
Minister of Health Girolamo Sirchia 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Independent Undersecretaries:
Cesare Cursi (AN)
Antonio Guidi (FI)
Elisabetta Casellati (FI)
(since 30 Dec. 2004)
Rocco Salini (FI)
(since 11 March 2005)
Giuliano Urbani.jpg
Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities Giuliano Urbani 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Forza Italia Deputy Ministers:
Antonio Martusciello (FI)
(since 14 January 2005)
Undersecretaries:
Nicola Bono (AN)
Mario Pescante (FI)
Vittorio Sgarbi (FI)
(until 25 June 2002)
Maurizio Gasparri (2001).jpg
Minister of Communications Maurizio Gasparri 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 National Alliance Undersecretaries:
Massimo Baldini (FI)
Giancarlo Innocenzi (FI)
Enrico La Loggia.jpg
Minister of Regional Affairs
(without portfolio)
Enrico La Loggia 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Forza Italia Undersecretaries:
Alberto Gagliardi (FI)
Beppe Pisanu.jpg
Minister for the Implementation of the Government Program
(without portfolio)
Giuseppe Pisanu 11 June 2001 – 3 July 2002 Forza Italia
Claudio Scajola 2001.jpg
Claudio Scajola 28 August 2003 – 23 April 2005 Forza Italia
Franco Frattini daticamera.jpg
Minister of Public Function
(without portfolio)
Franco Frattini [d] 11 June 2001 – 14 November 2002 Forza Italia Undersecretaries:
Learco Saporito (AN)
Luigi Mazzella (cropped).jpg
Luigi Mazzella 14 November 2002 – 3 December 2004 Independent
Mario Baccini deputato.jpg
Mario Baccini 3 December 2004 – 23 April 2005 Union of Christian and Centre Democrats
Lucio Stanca senato.jpg
Minister for Innovation and Technologies
(without portfolio)
Lucio Stanca 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Forza Italia
Mirko Tremaglia (2001).jpg
Minister of Italians in the World
(without portfolio)
Mirko Tremaglia 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 National Alliance
Stefania Prestigiacomo (p38350).jpg
Minister for Equal Opportunities
(without portfolio)
Stefania Prestigiacomo 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Forza Italia
Rocco Buttiglione 2001.jpg
Minister of Community Affairs
(without portfolio)
Rocco Buttiglione 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Union of Christian and Centre Democrats
before 6 December 2002:
United Christian Democrats
Umberto Bossi 1994.jpg
Minister for Institutional Reforms and Devolution
(without portfolio)
Umberto Bossi 11 June 2001 – 16 July 2004 Northern League Undersecretaries:
Aldo Brancher (FI)
Gian Paolo Gobbo (LN)
(since 30 Dec. 2004)
Roberto Calderoli datisenato 2001.jpg
Roberto Calderoli 16 July 2004 – 23 April 2005 Northern League
Carlo Giovanardi 2001.jpg
Minister for Parliamentary Relations
(without portfolio)
Carlo Giovanardi 11 June 2001 – 23 April 2005 Union of Christian and Centre Democrats
before 6 December 2002:
Christian Democratic Centre
Undersecretaries:
Cosimo Ventucci (FI)
  1. Delegated to policies of opposition and recovery to the spread of drug addiction.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Before 6 December 2002: CCD
  3. 1 2 Before 6 December 2002: CDU
  4. Delegated to the coordination of the information and security services.

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forza Italia</span> Former Italian political party

Forza Italia was a centre-right liberal-conservative political party in Italy, with Christian democratic, liberal, social democratic and populist tendencies. It was founded by Silvio Berlusconi, who served as Prime Minister of Italy four times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Italian Socialist Party</span> Political party in Italy

The New Italian Socialist Party or New PSI, more recently styled as Liberal Socialists – NPSI, is a political party in Italy which professes a social-democratic ideology and claims to be the successor to the historical Italian Socialist Party, which was disbanded after the judiciary tempest of the early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian Democratic Socialists</span> Political party in Italy

The Italian Democratic Socialists was a social-democratic political party in Italy. The party was the direct continuation of the Italian Socialists, the legal successor of the historical Italian Socialist Party. The Italian Democratic Socialist Party, the other long-time Italian social-democratic party, was merged into it along with other minor parties. The party's long-time leader was Enrico Boselli, a former president of Emilia-Romagna (1990–1993). In 2007, the SDI were merged with other descendants of the PSI to form the modern-day Italian Socialist Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Italian general election</span>

The 2001 Italian general election was held in Italy on 13 May 2001 to elect members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic. The election was won by the centre-right coalition House of Freedoms led by Silvio Berlusconi, defeating Francesco Rutelli, former mayor of Rome, and leader of the centre-left coalition The Olive Tree, and rising back to power after Berlusconi's first victory in the 1994 Italian general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 Italian general election</span>

The 1996 Italian general election was held on 21 April 1996 to elect members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic. Romano Prodi, leader of the centre-left The Olive Tree, won the election, narrowly defeating Silvio Berlusconi, who led the centre-right Pole for Freedoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angelino Alfano</span> Italian politician (born 1970)

Angelino Alfano is an Italian former politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 12 December 2016 to 1 June 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gianfranco Rotondi</span> Italian politician (born 1960)

Gianfranco Rotondi is an Italian politician. A member of the Italian Parliament since 1994, he was a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1994 to 1996, from 2001 to 2006, and since 2008, as well as a member of the Senate of the Republic from 2006 to 2008. He was also a Minister without Portfolio for the Implementation of the Government Program in the fourth Berlusconi government from 2008 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The People of Freedom</span> Italian centre-right political party

The People of Freedom was a centre-right political party in Italy. The PdL launched by Silvio Berlusconi as an electoral list, including Forza Italia and National Alliance, on 27 February for the 2008 Italian general election. The list was later transformed into a party during a party congress on 27–29 March 2009. The party's leading members included Angelino Alfano, Renato Schifani, Renato Brunetta, Roberto Formigoni, Maurizio Sacconi, Maurizio Gasparri, Mariastella Gelmini, Antonio Martino, Giancarlo Galan, Maurizio Lupi, Gaetano Quagliariello, Daniela Santanchè, Sandro Bondi, and Raffaele Fitto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Italian general election</span>

The 1994 Italian general election was held on 27 and 28 March 1994 to elect members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic for the 12th legislature. Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition won a large majority in the Chamber of Deputies but just missed winning a majority in the Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third Berlusconi government</span> 58th government of the Italian Republic

The third Berlusconi government was the cabinet of the government of Italy from 23 April 2005 to 17 May 2006. It was the 58th cabinet of the Italian Republic, and the second cabinet of the XIV Legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Berlusconi government</span> 51st government of the Italian Republic

The first Berlusconi government was the 51st government of the Italian Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fourth Berlusconi government</span> 60th government of the Italian Republic

The fourth Berlusconi government was the 60th government of Italy, in office from 8 May 2008 to 16 November 2011. It was the fourth government led by Silvio Berlusconi, who then became the longest-serving Prime Minister of Italy of the Italian Republic. The government was supported by a coalition between The People of Freedom (PdL) and the Northern League (LN), together with other smaller centre-right parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political career of Silvio Berlusconi</span>

The political career of Silvio Berlusconi (1994–2011) began in 1994, when Berlusconi entered politics for the first time serving intermittent terms as Prime Minister of Italy from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006 and 2008 to 2011, his career was racked with controversies and trials; amongst these was his failure to honour his promise to sell his personal assets in Mediaset, the largest television broadcaster network in Italy, in order to dispel any perceived conflicts of interest.

The Contract with the Italians is a document presented and signed by Silvio Berlusconi on May 8, 2001, during the television program Porta a Porta conducted by Bruno Vespa. With it Silvio Berlusconi, head of the opposition at the time, committed himself, in the event of electoral victory, to enact various reforms summarized in 5 points, and in case of failure to achieve at least 4 points, not to run again in subsequent elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dini government</span> 52nd government of the Italian Republic

The Dini government was the 52nd government of the Italian Republic. It was the second and last cabinet of the XII Legislature. It held office from 17 January 1995 to 17 May 1996, a total of 486 days, or 1 year and 4 months. It was the Italian Republic's first Government of Experts, entirely composed of experts and officials from outside Parliament.

The centre-right coalition is a political alliance of political parties in Italy active under several forms and names since 1994, when Silvio Berlusconi entered politics and formed the Forza Italia party. It has mostly competed with the centre-left coalition. It is composed of right-leaning parties in the Italian political arena, which generally advocate tax reduction and oppose immigration, and in some cases are eurosceptic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Letta government</span> 62nd government of the Italian Republic

The Letta government was the 62nd government of the Italian Republic. In office from 28 April 2013 to 22 January 2014, it comprised ministers of the Democratic Party (PD), The People of Freedom (PdL), Civic Choice (SC), the Union of the Centre (UdC), one of the Italian Radicals (RI) and three non-party independents.

The centre-left coalition is a political alliance of political parties in Italy active under several forms and names since 1995, when The Olive Tree was formed under the leadership of Romano Prodi. The centre-left coalition has ruled the country for more than fifteen years between 1996 and 2021; to do so, it had mostly to rely on a big tent that went from the more radical left-wing, which had more weight between 1996 and 2008, to the political centre, which had more weight during the 2010s, and its main parties were also part of grand coalitions and national unity governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Us with Italy</span> Political party in Italy

Us with Italy was a liberal conservative and Christian-democratic political party in Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Conte government</span> 65th government of the Italian Republic

The first Conte government was the 65th government of the Italian Republic. It was led by Giuseppe Conte, an independent, and it was in office from 1 June 2018 to 5 September 2019.

References

  1. Gingrich, Newt; Armey, Dick (1994). Contract With America: The Bold Plan.
  2. Ricolfi, Luca (2005). Dossier Italia: a che punto è il 'contratto con gli italiani'. Il mulino.
  3. Senato della Repubblica - XIV Legislatura - Seduta n. 6
  4. "Berlusconi wins senate confidence". BBC. 20 June 2001. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  5. Camera dei Deputati - XIV Legislatura - Seduta n. 6
  6. "Berlusconi: 'Successi straordinari Contro di me l'85% dei giornali'". Repubblica. 24 May 2004. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  7. Ricolfi, Luca (2006). Tempo scaduto. Il "Contratto con gli italiani" alla prova dei fatti. Il Mulino. ISBN   8815108882.
  8. "Ministri dal 1945 ad oggi" [Ministers from 1945 to present]. Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2012.