A parliamentary republic, with a bicameral legislature the chambers of which are elected simultaneously. The Chamber of Deputies is directly elected; the Senate is elected on a regional basis. A President can appoint up to 11 Senators for life, and has the power to dissolve parliament except in the last six months of a parliamentary term.
Electoral system
Party list proportional representation for elections to the Chamber of Deputies.
Current (March 2017) leaders
President: Sergio Mattarella (b. 1941), since February 2015 Prime Minister: Matteo Renzi (b. 1975), since February 2014
Previous leaders:
Presidents: Giorgio Napolitano (2006-2015)
Prime Ministers: Enrico Letta (2013-2014); Mario Monti (2011-2013); Silvio Berlusconi (2008-2011)
Joined the EU/EC
1957 (founder member)
Commissioner from country in Barroso II College of Commissioners, and portfolio
Antonio Tajani (Industry and Entrepreneurship, Vice President of the Commission)
Number of MEPs
73
Turnout in 2014 EP elections (%)
57.2% (65.1% in 2009)
Member of eurozone
Yes (founder member)
Except where a specific reference is inserted, the sources for this profile are either Neill Nugent’s book itself, or Barry Turner (ed.), The Statesman’s Yearbook Online, Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan. If your library subscribes, you can gain access at http://www.statesmansyearbook.com
