70 governments in 77 years: Why Italy changes governments so often

In July 2022, Mario Draghi resigned as Italy’s prime minister, following a snub from his coalition partners in a vote of confidence. His departure threw the country into political turmoil, and a snap general election was scheduled for this month.

Italy’s next government will mark the country’s 70th since the end of World War II, an average of one new government every thirteen months. This is far more frequent than the five-year election cycles the country is supposed to have.

The European nation’s political instability comes down to a few factors, but at the heart of it is Italy’s unique, hybrid political system.

“The system is important for representing different ideologies, different preferences, different geographical areas. Italy is a very diverse country,” said Andrea Ruggeri, an expert on Italian politics and international relations at the University of Oxford.

“However, democracy also needs policy and efficient policies,” she said. “So, one of the risks that Italy has been facing in the last few years has been constantly to be not able to deliver policies.”

So, what is it about the Italian political system that makes this changing of the guard so frequent? Watch the video above to learn how it works.

#CNBC #Italy #Elections

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[felixmarvu]

The title is misleading: we generally vote for national parliament every 5 years; it's the government that changes often, not the parliament (which is the only national body we vote directly for)

[michelebfc]

The title is incorrect. Italy doesn't go to snap elections that often. Actually, less than many other countries in Europe. What happens really often is a change in government, while keeping the same parliament.

[brubovis]

Title is wrong. There were only 19 elections after WWII, including this year's. Whereas the number of governments is higher, more than 60.

[joshuabuchsbaum]

In Italy the government doesn't have a mandate, so it keeps running until the parliament vote it out of office or the legislature come to an end. This is because Italy is a parliamentary republic, so the people vote only for the parliament, not the government.

[francescodisomma]

70 governi in 77 anni tra 6 mesi 71 governi in 77 anni

[benfarmer-webb]

Pretty much the main reason is that in Italy both houses have to have confidence in the government. Both houses are elected via the same method but the boundaries for constituencies in the two are subtly different, allowing slightly different results which can lead to a coaltion losing support in just one chamber and having to resign

[Deddiward]

Rosatellum can't be the reason that in the past we've had so many governments.
This is a new electoral system, so the reason has to be looked for in other areas.
Also, our electoral vote is not in the constitution, and is prone to be changed often.

[tppnr]

Someone said "Ruling over the Italians is not difficult. It's useless."

[marcobaluardo]

That is extremely true. Great job. From italy

[salvomarchi]

We change parliament every 5 years with the general elections. What changes so often is the government, with the prime minister.

Being the government elected by the parliament needs at all time it’s trust by both chambers. If at some point this confidence fails in just one chamber we have what it’s called a government crisis.

If the politicians can’t resolve it autonomously, then the president of the republic can dissolve the parliament, calling the general elections, or create a new prime minister and government from scratch with the already existing parliament.

[lostinthefaq]

The title does not represent what the video is talking about. It should have been "The electoral system in Italy" maybe?

[LegioneSacra]

As an italian i approoved the documentary . Truthfull, unbias and well researched.

[juandoe]

The reason why Italy has more elections is because it has a more democratic system and democracy is messy. Italy has a buffet of parties and ideas where as the US has only chicken or pasta. If your goal is stability then you need to limit democracy...one can get Queen the last one in the UK ruled for 70 years or use fptp which favors the ruling classes and the rich in capitalist societies. Italy maybe unstable but it is more democratic than the UK, Canada India who have a king and FPTP and more democratic than the US.

[witness]

Same reason they have 77 names for pasta

[rubenlarochelle]

This video is terrible at giving information... At the beginning it almost makes it seem like we vote every 13 months, while the actual average duration of the legislature is more than four years.

[heroiam]

This is really well put information for people abroad trying to understand, great work!

[daniel_]

You say that like it's a bad thing. We are a Republic, not a dictatorship. The last time we had a government that lasted about 20 years wasn't a period we were proud of.

Anyway, another reason that causes this is the abuse of the Article 67 of the Italian Constitution, forbidding the imperative mandate. This causes many politicians to "change suits" during their mandate, increasing the government instability.

[libriniserenagobbo]

But he gave no solutions...
I am tired of our politicians.

[ale_piers]

Im italian, for everyone its an habit to see this scene, it would be weird to see a government that lasts more than 2 years...

[Matteinko]

The one who was supposed to be a Journalist (Friends' styled title) - How could you mistake such a simple statement? The well formulated question is "Why Italy has had so many governments" since its establishment - It is illogical to use the present tense for this observation, each country has one gov at a time. It is "street talk" to use the present tense. I would have expected more from you. --> BTW it is true that Italy has had and will have many governments