How a government is formed
What happens between the close of polls and a new government being sworn in, and why none of it is automatic.
Does whoever wins the election become Prime Minister?
No. The Italian Prime Minister is not elected by voters: they are appointed by the President of the Republic.
There is no box on the ballot for head of government. Parties name a “leader of the political force”, but that does not bind the President, who appoints whoever they judge able to win the confidence of both chambers.
Source: Art. 92 of the Constitution
How long does it take to form a government?
There is no fixed limit: it took about four weeks in 2022 and almost three months in 2018.
The only constitutional deadline concerns parliament: the new chambers must meet within twenty days of the election. Consultations begin only once they have convened and elected their presiding officers.
Source: Art. 61 of the Constitution
Step by step
The new chambers meet within twenty days of the election. It is the only deadline the Constitution sets between the vote and a government, and it binds parliament rather than the executive.
Source: Art. 61 of the Constitution
Each chamber elects its own presiding officer. Consultations begin only once both chambers have convened and have their presidents — which is why the political negotiation cannot start on the Monday after the vote.
Source: Art. 63 of the Constitution
The President of the Republic receives the parliamentary groups at the Quirinale, usually from smallest to largest, along with the presiding officers, to establish which majority actually exists. Nothing says how long that may take.
Source: Art. 92 of the Constitution
The mandate goes to a person, who may accept it “with a reservation” — meaning they will only truly accept if they can assemble a cabinet and count the votes. There was no box on the ballot for head of government.
The government takes office when it is sworn in before the President of the Republic. From that moment it is in office and has yet to win anybody’s confidence.
Source: Art. 93 of the Constitution
Within ten days of the swearing-in the government appears before both chambers to win their confidence. They are two separate votes, one per chamber, and a government that loses them resigns — as the Fanfani government did in 1954.
Source: Art. 94 of the Constitution
If no majority is possible the President may dissolve parliament and the country votes again. It is drawn dashed because it is the last resort rather than the first: before it come a government backed by a coalition different from any put to voters, or one led by someone from outside party politics.
Source: Art. 88 of the Constitution
What are the consultations?
They are the meetings through which the President establishes which majority actually exists in parliament.
Parliamentary groups are received at the Quirinale, usually from smallest to largest, along with the presiding officers of both chambers. The President then gives someone a mandate, which they may accept “with reservation” — meaning they will only truly accept if they can assemble a cabinet and count the votes.
What is a confidence vote?
It is the vote by which each chamber approves the new government, and without which the government must resign.
A government takes office when it is sworn in, but must appear before both chambers within ten days and win their confidence. One that fails resigns — as the Fanfani government did in 1954.
Source: Art. 94 of the Constitution
What happens if nobody has a majority?
The President looks for whatever majority is possible, and dissolves parliament only if none exists.
Past routes have included a government backed by a coalition different from any put to voters, or one led by someone from outside party politics. A fresh election is the last resort, not the first.
Source: Art. 88 of the Constitution
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