ITALY: parliamentary elections Senato della Repubblica, 1996

ITALY
Parliamentary Chamber: Senato della Repubblica

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1996

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for ITALY <<<

Chamber:

Senato della Repubblica

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

21 April 1996

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all popularly-chosen Senators following premature dissolution of Parliament on 16 February 1996. Polling had previously been held in March 1994.

Background and outcome of elections:

General elections had previously been held in late March 1994. The following December, the Northern League, a member of the ruling Freedom Alliance, withdrew its support of the conservative Government headed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, causing it to fall and be succeeded by the interim "technocrat" administration of Prime Minister Lamberto Dini. Lacking sufficient legislative support, the latter in turn resigned in January 1996 and, the following month, President of the Republic Oscar Luigi Scalfaro dissolved Parliament and asked Mr. Dini to remain in office in a caretaker capacity until the poll to be held in April - three years ahead of schedule. This decision followed fruitless negotiations between the country's opposing political blocs on forming a broad-based government and agreeing on constitutional and electoral reforms without resorting to a vote.
Campaigning began on 18 March, with the main contestants being two broad alliances: the centre-left Olive Tree, headed by the ex-communist Democratic Party of the Left (PDS), and the centre-right Freedom Alliance, led by Mr. Berlusconi's Forza Italia and the National Alliance (AN) of Mr. Gianfranco Fini. They were opposed by the Northern League of Mr. Umberto Bossi and the Refounded Communists party headed by Mr. Fausto Bertinotti. Altogether 273 separate groups submitted lists of candidates. While key issues of debate concerned the economy, taxation and health care reform, the emphasis lay as much on differences between the main party leaders as on policies, as well as on the question of stability of the major alliances. The publication of opinion polls was banned in the last weeks prior to polling.
Voting results gave the Olive Tree alliance, led by Mr. Romano Prodi, clear victories in both the Chamber of Deputies and Senate as it captured exactly half the seats of the latter but fell short of an absolute majority in the Chamber, thus requiring it to seek outside support. The overall outcome signalled the first assumption of power by the left in nearly 150 years and reinforced the trend to bipolarisation of Italian politics. In this context, Mr. Prodi, an economist regarded as a moderate in his camp and untainted by the corruption charges which plagued rival politicians, vowed to build consensus between the Government, business and trade unions; he also pledged a strong stand in fiscal policy to meet European monetary union criteria. The Olive Free programme had furthermore emphasised privatisation and sweeping electoral reforms.
On 9 May, the newly elected Parliament held its inaugural session. On 18 May, the new 20-member Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Prodi was formed. It included nine PDS members (but not its leader, Mr. Messimo d'Alema) and Mr. Dini (Italian Renewal List) as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (21 April 1996): Elections results

Number of registered electors 42,884,351

Voters 35,308,507 (82.33%)

Blank or invalid ballot papers 2,650,206

Valid votes 32,658,301

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Votes %

Olive Tree 13,448,392 41.2

Freedom Alliance 12,187,498 37.3

Northern League 3,394,527 10.4

Refounded Communists 935,298 2.9

Social Movement (Fiamma) 748,759 2.3

Panella List 511,689 1.6

Others 1,410,438 4.3

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total Proportional Majority

Olive Tree 157 23 134

Freedom Alliance 116 49 67

Northern League 27 9 18

Refounded Communists 10 0 10

Social Movement (Fiamma) 1 1 0

Panella List 1 1 0

Others 3 0 3

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 289

Women: 26

Percent of women: 7.98

Distribution of seats according to age:

41 to 50 years 107

51 to 60 years 139

61 to 70 years 48

Over 70 years 21

Distribution of seats according to profession:

Academics/researchers 49

Legal professions 49

Civil servants 21

Managers 21

Journalists/writers/publishers 20

Medical professions 20

Teachers 20

Retired 17

Politicians 16

Private sector employees 16

Farmers 14

Trade Unionists 9

Others 43

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for ITALY <<<

Chamber:
	Senato della Repubblica
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	21 April 1996
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all popularly-chosen Senators following premature dissolution of Parliament on 16 February 1996. Polling had previously been held in March 1994.
Background and outcome of elections:
	General elections had previously been held in late March 1994. The following December, the Northern League, a member of the ruling Freedom Alliance, withdrew its support of the conservative Government headed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, causing it to fall and be succeeded by the interim "technocrat" administration of Prime Minister Lamberto Dini. Lacking sufficient legislative support, the latter in turn resigned in January 1996 and, the following month, President of the Republic Oscar Luigi Scalfaro dissolved Parliament and asked Mr. Dini to remain in office in a caretaker capacity until the poll to be held in April - three years ahead of schedule. This decision followed fruitless negotiations between the country's opposing political blocs on forming a broad-based government and agreeing on constitutional and electoral reforms without resorting to a vote. Campaigning began on 18 March, with the main contestants being two broad alliances: the centre-left Olive Tree, headed by the ex-communist Democratic Party of the Left (PDS), and the centre-right Freedom Alliance, led by Mr. Berlusconi's Forza Italia and the National Alliance (AN) of Mr. Gianfranco Fini. They were opposed by the Northern League of Mr. Umberto Bossi and the Refounded Communists party headed by Mr. Fausto Bertinotti. Altogether 273 separate groups submitted lists of candidates. While key issues of debate concerned the economy, taxation and health care reform, the emphasis lay as much on differences between the main party leaders as on policies, as well as on the question of stability of the major alliances. The publication of opinion polls was banned in the last weeks prior to polling. Voting results gave the Olive Tree alliance, led by Mr. Romano Prodi, clear victories in both the Chamber of Deputies and Senate as it captured exactly half the seats of the latter but fell short of an absolute majority in the Chamber, thus requiring it to seek outside support. The overall outcome signalled the first assumption of power by the left in nearly 150 years and reinforced the trend to bipolarisation of Italian politics. In this context, Mr. Prodi, an economist regarded as a moderate in his camp and untainted by the corruption charges which plagued rival politicians, vowed to build consensus between the Government, business and trade unions; he also pledged a strong stand in fiscal policy to meet European monetary union criteria. The Olive Free programme had furthermore emphasised privatisation and sweeping electoral reforms. On 9 May, the newly elected Parliament held its inaugural session. On 18 May, the new 20-member Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Prodi was formed. It included nine PDS members (but not its leader, Mr. Messimo d'Alema) and Mr. Dini (Italian Renewal List) as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Round no 1 (21 April 1996): Elections results
Number of registered electors	42,884,351
Voters	35,308,507 (82.33%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	2,650,206
Valid votes	32,658,301

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Votes	%
Olive Tree	13,448,392	41.2
Freedom Alliance	12,187,498	37.3
Northern League	3,394,527	10.4
Refounded Communists	935,298	2.9
Social Movement (Fiamma)	748,759	2.3
Panella List	511,689	1.6
Others	1,410,438	4.3

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total	Proportional	Majority
Olive Tree	157	23	134
Freedom Alliance	116	49	67
Northern League	27	9	18
Refounded Communists	10	0	10
Social Movement (Fiamma)	1	1	0
Panella List	1	1	0
Others	3	0	3

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	289
Women:	26
Percent of women:	7.98

Distribution of seats according to age:
41 to 50 years	107
51 to 60 years	139
61 to 70 years	48
Over 70 years	21
Distribution of seats according to profession:
Academics/researchers	49
Legal professions	49
Civil servants	21
Managers	21
Journalists/writers/publishers	20
Medical professions	20
Teachers	20
Retired	17
Politicians	16
Private sector employees	16
Farmers	14
Trade Unionists	9
Others	43