First Prodi government

(Redirected from Prodi I Cabinet)

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

PortraitOfficeNameTermPartyUndersecretaries
Prime MinisterRomano Prodi18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998IndependentEnrico Luigi Micheli (PPI)
Arturo Parisi (Ind.)[a]
Giorgio Bogi (SR)
(until 14 March 1997)
Deputy Prime MinisterWalter Veltroni18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Democratic Party of the Left
Minister of Foreign AffairsLamberto Dini18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Italian RenewalPiero Fassino (PDS)
Rino Serri (MCU)
Patrizia Toia (PPI)
Minister of the InteriorGiorgio Napolitano18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Democratic Party of the LeftFranco 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 JusticeGiovanni Maria Flick18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998IndependentGiuseppe Ayala (UD)
Franco Corleone (FdV)
Antonino Mirone (Patto)
Minister of Treasury, Budget and Economic PlanningCarlo Azeglio Ciampi18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998IndependentLaura Pennacchi (PDS)
Giorgio Macciotta (PDS)
Isaia Sales (PDS)
Roberto Pinza (PPI)
Filippo Cavazzuti (PDS)
Dino Piero Giarda (Ind.)
Minister of FinanceVincenzo Visco18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Democratic Party of the LeftGiovanni Marongiu (RI)
Fausto Vigevani (PDS)
Pierluigi Castellani (PPI)
(since 21 Nov. 1996)
Minister of DefenceBeniamino Andreatta18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Italian People's PartyMassimo Brutti (PPI)
Gianni Rivera (Patto)
Minister of Education, University, Scientific and Technological ResearchLuigi Berlinguer18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Democratic Party of the LeftNadia Masini (PDS)
Carla Rocchi (FdV)
Albertina Soliani (PPI)
Minister of Public WorksAntonio Di Pietro18 May 1996 – 20 November 1996IndependentAntonio Bargone (PDS)
Gianni Francesco Mattioli (FdV)
Paolo Costa20 November 1996 – 21 October 1998Independent
Minister of Agricultural ResourcesMichele Pinto18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Italian People's PartyRoberto Borroni (PDS)
Minister of Transport and NavigationClaudio Burlando18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Democratic Party of the LeftGiuseppe Albertini (PDS)
Giuseppe Soriero (PDS)
Minister of Post and TelecommunicationsAntonio Maccanico18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Democratic UnionVincenzo Maria Vita (PDS)
Michele Lauria (PPI)
Minister of Industry, Commerce and CraftsmanshipPier Luigi Bersani18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Democratic Party of the LeftUmberto Carpi (PDS)
Salvatore Ladu (PPI)
Minister of Labour and Social SecurityTiziano Treu18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Italian RenewalAntonio Pizzinato (PDS)
Federica Gasparrini (RI)
Elena Montecchi (PDS)
(until 23 Feb. 1998)
Alessandro Garilli (Ind.)
(since 20 March 1998)
Minister of Foreign TradeAugusto Fantozzi18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Italian RenewalAntonello Cabras (UD)
Minister of HealthRosy Bindi18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Italian People's PartyBruno Viserta Costantini (PDS)
Monica Bettoni Brandani (PDS)
Minister of Cultural Heritage and ActivitiesWalter Veltroni18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Democratic Party of the LeftWiller Bordon (AD)
Alberto La Volpe (SI)
Minister of the EnvironmentEdo Ronchi18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Federation of the GreensValerio Calzolaio (PDS)
Minister of Public Function and Regional Affairs
(without portfolio)
Franco Bassanini18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Democratic Party of the LeftSergio Zoppi (PPI)
Ernesto Bettinelli (Ind.)
(since 13 Feb. 1997)
Minister for Parliamentary Relations
(without portfolio)
Giorgio Bogi14 March 1997 – 21 October 1998Republican Left Elena Montecchi (PDS)
(since 23 Feb. 1998)
Minister for Equal Opportunities
(without portfolio)
Anna Finocchiaro18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Democratic Party of the Left
Minister of Social Solidarity
(without portfolio)
Livia Turco18 May 1996 – 21 October 1998Democratic Party of the Left

References

Sources