 Giuseppe Conte at the Quirinal Palace | |
| Date | 4 April 2018 – 31 May 2018 |
|---|---|
| Location | Italy |
| Type | Parliamentary government formation |
| Cause | 2018 Italian general election |
| Participants | M5S, Lega, FI, PD, FdI, LeU, Aut, Mixed Group |
| Outcome | Formation of the Conte Cabinet |
In the 2018 Italian general election, no political group or party won an outright majority, resulting in a hung parliament.[1] On 4 March, the centre-right coalition, in which Matteo Salvini's League emerged as the main political force, won a plurality of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and in the Senate, while the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) led by Luigi Di Maio became the party with the largest number of votes. The centre-left coalition, led by Matteo Renzi and the then-governing Democratic Party (PD), came third.[2] Protracted negotiations were required before a government formation could be ultimated.
On 24 March 2018, following the elections of the presidents of the two houses of the Italian Parliament, Roberto Fico of the M5S, and Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati of Forza Italia (FI), Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni (PD) resigned his post to President Sergio Mattarella. In accordance with common practice in Italy, Mattarella asked the prime minister to remain in office to deal with the current affairs until a new cabinet would have been formed.[3][4]
On 31 May 2018, following 88 days of negotiations and several impasses, law professor Giuseppe Conte was appointed as the prime minister with support from the LN and the M5S, even though he hadn't run for the Italian Parliament. Matteo Salvini (Lega) and Luigi Di Maio (M5S) were also appointed as vice premiers,[5] forming the 66th Italian government since World War II.[6] The formation of a new government avoided the possibility of immediate new elections.[7]
- ^ Sala, Alessandro. "Elezioni 2018: M5S primo partito, nel centrodestra la Lega supera FI".
- ^ "Elezioni politiche: vincono M5s e Lega. Crollo del Partito democratico. Centrodestra prima coalizione. Il Carroccio sorpassa Forza Italia". 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Colle, Gentiloni si è dimesso da presidente del Consiglio: "Orgoglioso di aver servito l'Italia, grazie a tutto il governo"". Repubblica.it. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ Martirano, Dino. "Le dimissioni di Gentiloni, le consultazioni al Quirinale: ora che succede?". Corriere.it. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ Jason Horowitz, Italy’s Populist Parties Win Approval to Form Government, New York Times (May 31, 2018).
- ^ Jamie McGeever, Populism surge intensifies spotlight on economic, market orthodoxy, Reuters (June 1, 2018).
- ^ "L'analisi/19 marzo: Di Maio si apre a dialogo, Colle dà tempo ma a luglio è deadline - Politica". 11 March 2018.