First Prodi government

The first Prodi government was the 53rd government of Italy. It held office from 18 May 1996 until 21 October 1998.

First Prodi government

53rd Cabinet of Italy
Date formed18 May 1996 (1996-05-18)
Date dissolved21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) (887 days)
People and organisations
Head of stateOscar Luigi Scalfaro
Head of governmentRomano Prodi
No. of ministers22 (incl. Prime Minister)
Ministers removed1
Total no. of members23 (incl. Prime Minister)
Member partyPDS, PPI, RI, FdV, UD
External support:
PRC
Status in legislatureCentre-left coalition
Opposition partyFI, AN, LN, CCD, CDU
Opposition leaderSilvio Berlusconi
History
Election(s)1996 election
Legislature term(s)XIII Legislature (1996 – 2001)
PredecessorDini government
SuccessorFirst D'Alema government

Formation
Official photo of the Prodi's government after the oath at the Quirinal Palace

On 21 April 1996, the Olive Tree won 1996 general election in alliance with the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC), making Romano Prodi Prime Minister of Italy. The Olive Tree's main component was the Democratic Party of the Left, which contained the bulk of the former Italian Communist Party. The PDS' Walter Veltroni, who ran in ticket with Prodi in a long electoral campaign, served as Deputy Prime Minister, and 15 other PDS ministers joined him in cabinet alongside 10 PDS junior ministers. It was the first time that (former) Communists had taken part in government since 1947.

Besides the external support of PRC, the coalition received the support also of some minor parties: the Italian Republican Party (PRI, social-liberal), The Network (social-democratic), the South Tyrolean People's Party (regionalist and Christian democratic) and some other minor parties which later merged with PDS.

The average age of the ministers was 55.9 years and 14 ministers has parliamentary experience.[1] The number of female ministers was three.[1]

Fall

The government fell in 1998 when the Communist Refoundation Party withdrew its support. This led to the resignation of Prodi and to the formation of a new government led by Massimo D'Alema as Prime Minister.

Party breakdown

Composition
Portrait Office Name Term Party Undersecretaries
Prime Minister Romano Prodi 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Independent Enrico Luigi Micheli (PPI)
Arturo Parisi (Ind.)[lower-alpha 1]
Giorgio Bogi (SR)
(until 14 March 1997)
Deputy Prime Minister Walter Veltroni 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lamberto Dini 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Italian Renewal Piero Fassino (PDS)
Rino Serri (MCU)
Patrizia Toia (PPI)
Minister of the Interior Giorgio Napolitano 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Franco Barberi (Ind.)
Fabrizio Abbate (PPI)
Giannicola Sinisi (PPI)
Adriana Vigneri (PDS)
Lucio Testa (RI)
Angelo Giorgianni (RI)
(until 13 March 1998)
Minister of Grace and Justice Giovanni Maria Flick 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Independent Giuseppe Ayala (UD)
Franco Corleone (FdV)
Antonino Mirone (Patto)
Minister of Treasury, Budget and Economic Planning Carlo Azeglio Ciampi 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Independent Laura Pennacchi (PDS)
Giorgio Macciotta (PDS)
Isaia Sales (PDS)
Roberto Pinza (PPI)
Filippo Cavazzuti (PDS)
Dino Piero Giarda (Ind.)
Minister of Finance Vincenzo Visco 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Giovanni Marongiu (RI)
Fausto Vigevani (PDS)
Pierluigi Castellani (PPI)
(since 21 Nov. 1996)
Minister of Defence Beniamino Andreatta 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Italian People's Party Massimo Brutti (PPI)
Gianni Rivera (Patto)
Minister of Education, University, Scientific and Technological Research Luigi Berlinguer 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Nadia Masini (PDS)
Carla Rocchi (FdV)
Albertina Soliani (PPI)
Minister of Public Works Antonio Di Pietro 18 May 1996 – 20 November 1996 Independent Antonio Bargone (PDS)
Gianni Francesco Mattioli (FdV)
Paolo Costa 20 November 1996 – 21 October 1998 Independent
Minister of Agricultural Resources Michele Pinto 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Italian People's Party Roberto Borroni (PDS)
Minister of Transport and Navigation Claudio Burlando 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Giuseppe Albertini (PDS)
Giuseppe Soriero (PDS)
Minister of Post and Telecommunications Antonio Maccanico 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Union Vincenzo Maria Vita (PDS)
Michele Lauria (PPI)
Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftsmanship Pier Luigi Bersani 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Umberto Carpi (PDS)
Salvatore Ladu (PPI)
Minister of Labour and Social Security Tiziano Treu 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Italian Renewal Antonio Pizzinato (PDS)
Federica Gasparrini (RI)
Elena Montecchi (PDS)
(until 23 Feb. 1998)
Alessandro Garilli (Ind.)
(since 20 March 1998)
Minister of Foreign Trade Augusto Fantozzi 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Italian Renewal Antonello Cabras (UD)
Minister of Health Rosy Bindi 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Italian People's Party Bruno Viserta Costantini (PDS)
Monica Bettoni Brandani (PDS)
Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities Walter Veltroni 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Willer Bordon (AD)
Alberto La Volpe (SI)
Minister of the Environment Edo Ronchi 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Federation of the Greens Valerio Calzolaio (PDS)
Minister of Public Function and Regional Affairs
(without portfolio)		 Franco Bassanini 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left Sergio Zoppi (PPI)
Ernesto Bettinelli (Ind.)
(since 13 Feb. 1997)
Minister for Parliamentary Relations
(without portfolio)		 Giorgio Bogi 14 March 1997 – 21 October 1998 Republican Left Elena Montecchi (PDS)
(since 23 Feb. 1998)
Minister for Equal Opportunities
(without portfolio)		 Anna Finocchiaro 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left
Minister of Social Solidarity
(without portfolio)		 Livia Turco 18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998 Democratic Party of the Left
  1. Delegated to information and publishing.

References
  1. De Giorgi, Elisabetta; Francesco Marangoni (2009). "The First Year of Berlusconi's Fourth Government: Formation, Characteristics and Activities" (PDF). Bulletin of Italian Politics. 1 (1): 87–109. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-30. Retrieved 2013-09-18.

Sources
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