Prodi II Cabinet

59th Cabinet of Italy
Date formed17 May 2006 (2006-05-17)
Date dissolved8 May 2008 (2008-05-08) (723 days)
People and organisations
Head of stateGiorgio Napolitano
Head of governmentRomano Prodi
No. of ministers26 (incl. Prime Minister)
Ministers removed1 resigned
Total no. of members27 (incl. Prime Minister)
Member partyThe Union (DS, DL, PRC, RNP, IdV, PdCI, FdV, UDEUR)
Status in legislatureCentre-left coalition
Opposition partiesHouse of Freedoms (FI, AN, UDC, LN)
Opposition leaderSilvio Berlusconi
History
Election(s)2006 election
Outgoing election2008 election
Legislature term(s)XV Legislature (2006 – 2008)
PredecessorBerlusconi III Cabinet
SuccessorBerlusconi IV Cabinet

The second Prodi government was the cabinet of the government of Italy from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008, a total of 722 days, or 1 year, 11 months and 21 days. The 59th cabinet of the Italian Republic, it was the only cabinet of the XV Legislature.

It was composed of 24 ministers, 10 deputy-ministers and 66 under-secretaries, for a total of 102 members.[1]

This was the first government of the Republic in which the Communist Refoundation Party and the Italian Radicals participated directly, and the first government supported by the entire parliamentary left wing since the De Gasperi III Cabinet in 1947.

Formation

Romano Prodi led his coalition to the electoral campaign preceding the election, eventually won by a very narrow margin of 25,000 votes, and a final majority of two seats in the Senate, on 10 April. Prodi's appointment was somewhat delayed, as the outgoing President of the Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, ended his mandate in May, not having enough time for the usual procedure (consultations made by the President, appointment of a Prime Minister, motion of confidence and oath of office). After the acrimonious election of Giorgio Napolitano to replace Ciampi, Prodi could proceed with his transition to government. On 16 May he was invited by Napolitano to form a government. The following day, 17 May 2006, Prodi and his second cabinet were sworn into office.

Romano Prodi obtained the support for his cabinet on 19 May at the Senate and on 23 May at the Chamber of Deputies. Also on 18 May, Prodi laid out some sense of his new foreign policy when he pledged to withdraw Italian troops from Iraq and called the Iraq War a "grave mistake that has not solved but increased the problem of security".[2]

First crisis

The coalition led by Romano Prodi, thanks to the electoral law which gave the winner a sixty-seat majority, can count on a good majority in the Chamber of Deputies but only on a very narrow majority in the Senate. The composition of the coalition was heterogeneous, combining parties of communist ideology, the Party of Italian Communists and Communist Refoundation Party, within the same government as parties of Catholic inspiration, The Daisy and UDEUR. The latter was led by Clemente Mastella, former chairman of Christian Democracy. Therefore, according to critics, it was difficult to have a single policy in different key areas, such as economics and foreign politics (for instance, Italian military presence in Afghanistan). In his earlier months as PM, Prodi had a key role in the creation of a multinational peacekeeping force in Lebanon following the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.

Prodi's government faced a crisis over policies in early 2007, after just nine months of government. Three ministers in Prodi's Cabinet boycotted a vote in January to continue funding for Italian troop deployments in Afghanistan. Lawmakers approved the expansion of the US military base Caserma Ederle at the end of January, but the victory was so narrow that Deputy Prime Minister Francesco Rutelli criticised members of the coalition who had not supported the government. At around the same time, Justice Minister Clemente Mastella, of the coalition member UDEUR, said he would rather see the government fall than support its unwed couples legislation.[3]

Tens of thousands of people marched in Vicenza against the expansion of Caserma Ederle, which saw the participation of some leading far-left members of the government.[4] Harsh debates followed in the Italian Senate on 20 February 2007. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Massimo D'Alema declared during an official visit in Ibiza, Spain that, without a majority on foreign policy affairs, the government would resign. The following day, D'Alema gave a speech at the Senate representing the government, clarifying his foreign policy and asking the Senate to vote for or against it. In spite of the fear of many senators that Prodi's defeat would return Silvio Berlusconi to power, the Senate did not approve a motion backing Prodi's government foreign policy, two votes shy of the required majority of 160.[5]

After a Government meeting on 21 February, Romano Prodi tendered his resignation to the President Giorgio Napolitano, who cut short an official visit to Bologna in order to receive the Prime Minister. Prodi's spokesman indicated that he would only agree to form a new Government "if, and only if, he is guaranteed the full support of all the parties in the majority from now on".[6] On 22 February, centre-left coalition party leaders backed a non-negotiable list of twelve political conditions given by Prodi as conditions of his remaining in office. President Napolitano held talks with political leaders on 23 February to decide whether to confirm Prodi's Government, ask Prodi to form a new government or call fresh elections.[7]

Following these talks, on 24 February, President Napolitano asked Prodi to remain in office but to submit to a vote of confidence in both houses.[7][8] On 28 February, the Senate voted to grant confidence to Prodi's Government. Though facing strong opposition from the centre-right coalition, the vote resulted in a 162–157 victory.[9] Prodi then faced a vote of confidence in the lower house on 2 March, which he won as expected with a large majority of 342–198.[10]

On 14 October 2007, Prodi oversaw the merger of two main parties of the Italian centre-left, Democrats of the Left and The Daisy, creating the Democratic Party. Prodi himself led the merger of the two parties, which had been planned over a twelve-year period, and became the first President of the party. He announced his resignation from that post on 16 April 2008, two days after the Democratic Party's defeat in the general election.

Fall

On 24 January 2008 Prime Minister of Italy Romano Prodi lost a vote of confidence in the Senate by a vote of 161 to 156 votes, causing the downfall of his government.[11] Prodi's resignation led President Giorgio Napolitano to request the President of the Senate, Franco Marini, to assess the possibility to form a caretaker government. The other possibility would have been to call for early elections immediately. Marini acknowledged impossibility to form an interim government due to the unavailability of the centre-right parties, and early elections were scheduled for 13 and 14 April 2008.

Investiture votes

19–23 May 2006
Investiture votes for Prodi II Cabinet
House of Parliament Vote Parties Votes
Senate of the Republic check YesThe Olive Tree, PRC, Together with the Union, IdV, SVP–PATT–ALD, UDEUR, PDM, Others
165 / 320
☒ NoFI, AN, UDC, LN, DCA, MpA
155 / 320
Chamber of Deputies check YesThe Olive Tree, PRC, IdV, RnP, PdCI, FdV, UDEUR (14), SVP–PATT–ALD, Others
344 / 612
☒ NoFI, AN, UDC, LN, DCA-NPSI, MpA
268 / 612

Party breakdown

Beginning of term

Ministers

9
8
2
1
1
1
1
1
1

Ministers and other members

End of term

Ministers

19
2
1
1
1
1
1

Ministers and other members

Council of Ministers

Office Name Party Term
Prime Minister Romano Prodi Ind. / PD 2006–2008
Deputy Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema DS / PD 2006–2008
Francesco Rutelli DL / PD 2006–2008
Minister of Foreign Affairs Massimo D'Alema DS / PD 2006–2008
Minister of the Interior Giuliano Amato Ind. / PD 2006–2008
Minister of Justice Clemente Mastella UDEUR 2006–2008
Romano Prodi (ad interim) PD 2008
Luigi Scotti Ind. 2008
Minister of Economy and Finance Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa Ind. 2006–2008
Minister of Economic Development Pier Luigi Bersani DS / PD 2006–2008
Minister of University and Research Fabio Mussi DS / SD 2006–2008
Minister of Public Education Giuseppe Fioroni DL / PD 2006–2008
Minister of European Affairs and International Trade Emma Bonino RnP 2006–2008
Minister of Labour and Social Security Cesare Damiano DS / PD 2006–2008
Minister of Social Solidarity Paolo Ferrero PRC 2006–2008
Minister of Defence Arturo Parisi DL / PD 2006–2008
Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies Paolo De Castro DL / PD 2006–2008
Minister of the Environment Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio FdV 2006–2008
Minister of Infrastructure Antonio Di Pietro IdV 2006–2008
Minister of Transport Alessandro Bianchi PdCI 2006–2008
Minister of Health Livia Turco DS / PD 2006–2008
Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities Francesco Rutelli DL / PD 2006–2008
Minister of Communications Paolo Gentiloni DL / PD 2006–2008
Minister of Regional Affairs Linda Lanzillotta DL / PD 2006–2008
Minister for the Implementation of the Government Program Giulio Santagata DL / PD 2006–2008
Minister of Public Administration Luigi Nicolais DS / PD 2006–2008
Minister for Equal Opportunities Barbara Pollastrini DS / PD 2006–2008
Minister for Parliamentary Relations and Institutional Reforms Vannino Chiti DS / PD 2006–2008
Minister for Family Rosy Bindi DL / PD 2006–2008
Minister of Youth Policies and Sport Giovanna Melandri DS / PD 2006–2008
Secretary of the Council of Ministers Enrico Letta DL / PD 2006–2008

Composition

Office Portrait Name Term of office Party
Prime Minister Romano Prodi 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
Independent
Undersecretaries
  • Enrico Luigi Micheli (PD)[lower-alpha 1] – Delegated to the Security of the Republic
  • Fabio Gobbo (Ind.) – Delegated to the CIPE and Supervision of the Economical Affairs for the Presidency of the Council (until 6 April 2008)
  • Ricardo Franco Levi (PD)[lower-alpha 1] – Delegated to Information, Communications and Publishing
Deputy Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
Democrats of the Left
Francesco Rutelli 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
The Daisy
Minister of Foreign Affairs Massimo D'Alema 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
Democrats of the Left
Deputy Ministers
Undersecretaries
Minister of the Interior Giuliano Amato 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
Independent
Deputy Minister
Undersecretaries
Minister of Justice Clemente Mastella 17 May 2006 – 17 January 2008 Union of Democrats for Europe
Romano Prodi
(Acting)		 17 January 2008 – 7 February 2008 Democratic Party
Luigi Scotti 7 February 2008 – 8 May 2008 Independent
Undersecretaries
Minister of Defence Arturo Parisi 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
The Daisy
Undersecretaries
Minister of Economy and Finance Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Independent
Deputy Ministers
Undersecretaries
Minister of Economic Development Pier Luigi Bersani 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
Democrats of the Left
Deputy Minister
Undersecretaries
Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies Paolo De Castro 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
The Daisy
Undersecretaries
Minister of the Environment Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Federation of the Greens
Undersecretaries
Minister of Infrastructure Antonio Di Pietro 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Italy of Values
Deputy Minister
Undersecretaries
Minister of Transport Alessandro Bianchi 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Party of Italian Communists
Deputy Minister
Undersecretaries
Minister of Labour and Social Security Cesare Damiano 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
Democrats of the Left
Undersecretaries
Minister of Public Education Giuseppe Fioroni 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
The Daisy
Deputy Minister
Undersecretaries
Minister of University and Research Fabio Mussi 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Left
Before 5 May 2007:
Democrats of the Left
Undersecretaries
Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities Francesco Rutelli 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
The Daisy
Undersecretaries
Minister of Health Livia Turco 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
Democrats of the Left
Undersecretaries
Minister of Communications Paolo Gentiloni 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
The Daisy
Undersecretaries
Minister of International Trade Emma Bonino 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Italian Radicals
Undersecretaries
Minister of Social Solidarity Paolo Ferrero 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Communist Refoundation Party
Undersecretaries
Minister for Parliamentary Relations
(without portfolio)		 Vannino Chiti 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
Democrats of the Left
Undersecretaries
Minister of Public Administration
(without portfolio)		 Luigi Nicolais 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
Democrats of the Left
Undersecretaries
Minister of Regional Affairs
(without portfolio)		 Linda Lanzillotta 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
The Daisy
Undersecretary
Minister for Equal Opportunities
(without portfolio)		 Barbara Pollastrini 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
Democrats of the Left
Undersecretary
  • Donatella Linguiti (PRC)
Minister of European Affairs
(without portfolio)		 Emma Bonino 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Italian Radicals
Minister for Youth Policies and Sport
(without portfolio)		 Giovanna Melandri 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
Democrats of the Left
Undersecretaries
Minister for Family
(without portfolio)		 Rosy Bindi 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
The Daisy
Undersecretary
Minister for the Implementation of the Government Program
(without portfolio)		 Giulio Santagata 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
The Daisy
Secretary of the Council of Ministers
(Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers)		 Enrico Letta 17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008 Democratic Party
Before 14 October 2007:
The Daisy
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Before 14 October 2007: DL
  2. 1 2 3 4 Before 5 October 2007: SDI
  3. 1 2 before 1 October 2007: DL
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Before 14 October 2007: DS
  5. ↑ Before 14 October 2007: Independent
  6. 1 2 before 5 May 2007: DS

Sources

References

  1. ↑ "DPR 7 maggio 2008". Gazzetta Ufficiale. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
  2. ↑ Sturcke, James (18 May 2006). "Prodi condemns Iraq war as 'grave mistake'". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 25 February 2007.
  3. ↑ "Rift threatens Italian coalition". BBC News. 2 February 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2007.
  4. ↑ "Italians march in US base protest". BBC News. 17 February 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2007.
  5. ↑ "Italian PM Prodi resigns after foreign policy defeat". CBC News. 21 February 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2007.
  6. ↑ "Italian PM hands in resignation". BBC News. 21 February 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2007.
  7. 1 2 "Italian coalition 'to back Prodi". BBC News. 23 February 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2007.
  8. ↑ "Italian PM asked to resume duties". BBC News. 24 February 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2007.
  9. ↑ "Prodi wins crucial confidence vote in Senate". The New York Times. Rome. 28 February 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  10. ↑ "Italian governments since Silvio Berlusconi first became prime minister". The Telegraph. London. 9 November 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  11. ↑ "Prodi loses crucial Senate vote". BBC. 24 January 2008. Archived from the original on 27 January 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
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