Fourth Berlusconi government

60th Cabinet of Italy
Date formed8 May 2008 (2008-05-08)
Date dissolved16 November 2011 (2011-11-16) (1,288 days)
People and organisations
Head of stateGiorgio Napolitano
Head of governmentSilvio Berlusconi
No. of ministers25 (incl. Prime Minister)
Ministers removed5 resigned
Total no. of members30 (incl. Prime Minister)
Member partiesPdL, LN, PT (since March 2011)
Status in legislatureCentre-right coalition
Opposition partiesPD, IdV, UdC, FLI (since Nov. 2010), MpA (since Nov. 2010)
History
Election(s)2008 election
Legislature term(s)XVI Legislature (2008–2013)
Incoming formationBerlusconi IV Cabinet formation, 2008
PredecessorSecond Prodi government
SuccessorMonti government

The fourth Berlusconi government was the 60th government of Italy, in office from 8 May 2008 to 16 November 2011.[1] It was the fourth government led by Silvio Berlusconi, who then became the longest-serving Prime Minister of Italy of the Italian Republic (3340 days in office). The government was supported by a coalition between The People of Freedom (PdL) and the Northern League (LN), together with other smaller centre-right parties.

At its formation, the government included 22 ministers and 39 under-secretaries, for a total of 61 members. At the end of its term the cabinet was composed of 24 ministers, 4 deputy ministers and 39 under-secretaries, for a total of 67 members. With 1287 days of tenure, it was second in longevity only to Berlusconi's second government (1409 days from 2001 to 2005) in the history of the Italian Republic.

Formation

Berlusconi's government during the oath.

After the sudden fall of the second Prodi government on 24 January, the break-up of The Union coalition and the subsequent political crisis (which paved the way for a fresh general election in April 2008), Berlusconi, Gianfranco Fini and other party leaders finally agreed on 8 February 2008 to form a joint list named "The People of Freedom" (Italian: Il Popolo della Libertà), allied with the Northern League of Umberto Bossi and with the Sicilian Movement for Autonomy of Raffaele Lombardo.[2]

In the snap parliamentary elections held on 13/14 April 2008 this coalition won against Walter Veltroni's centre-left coalition in both houses of the Italian Parliament.

Berlusconi and his ministers were sworn in on 8 May 2008.

Fall

On 10 October the Chamber of Deputies rejected the law on the budget of the State proposed by the government. As a result of this event Berlusconi moved for a confidence vote in the Chamber on 14 October, he won the vote with just 316 votes to 310, minimum required to retain a majority. An increasing number of Deputies continued to cross the floor and join the opposition and on 8 November the Chamber approved the law on the budget of the State previously rejected but with only 308 votes, while opposition parties didn't participate in the vote to highlight that Berlusconi lost his majority. Among other things, his perceived failure to tackle Italy's debt crisis with an estimated debt sum of €1.9 trillion ($2.6 trillion) has urged Berlusconi to leave office. The popularity of this decision was reflected in the fact that while he was resigning crowds sang the hallelujah portion of George Frederick Handel's "Messiah", complete with some vocal accompaniment; there was also dancing in the streets outside the Quirinal Palace, the official residence of the President of Italy, where Berlusconi went to tender his resignation.

The austerity package was passed, it will raise €59.8 billion in savings from spending cuts and tax raises, including freezing public-sector salaries until 2014 and gradually increasing the retirement age for women in the private sector from 60 in 2014 to 65 in 2026. The resignation also came at a difficult time for Berlusconi, as he was involved in numerous trials for corruption, fraud and sex offences. He was often found guilty in lower courts but used loopholes in Italy's legal system to evade incarceration.

Berlusconi had also failed to meet some of his pre-election promises and had failed to prevent economic decline and introduce serious reforms. Many believed that the problems and doubts over Berlusconi's leadership and his coalition were one of the factors that contributed to market anxieties over an imminent Italian financial disaster, which could have a potentially catastrophic effect on the 17-nation eurozone and the world economy. Many critics of Berlusconi accused him of using his power primarily to protect his own business ventures. Umberto Bossi, leader of the Northern League, a partner in Berlusconi's right-wing coalition, was quoted as informing reporters outside parliament, "We asked the prime minister to step aside."

CNN reported on 7 November that Berlusconi had previously denied the rumors that he was going to resign and had stated on his Facebook page that "The rumors of my resignation are groundless." On 12 November 2011, after a final meeting with his cabinet, Berlusconi met Italian president Giorgio Napolitano at the Quirinal Palace to tender his resignation. He announced this to the Italian public by telephone on one of his television channels. Italian news agency ANSA reported that Berlusconi had remarked to his aides that "This is something that deeply saddens me". Berlusconi conceded that he had lost his parliamentary majority and concluded that "things like who leads or who doesn't lead the government was less important than doing what is right for the country." Berlusconi issued a statement that he would not stand for office in Italy again after the budget defeat. In his resignation he was said to have also mentioned "eight traitors", former allies who had abstained.

Investiture votes

14-15 May 2008
Investiture votes for Berlusconi IV Cabinet
House of Parliament Vote Parties Votes
Chamber of Deputies check YesPdL, LN, MpA
335 / 611
☒ NoPD, UdC, IdV, SVP–ALD, Others
275 / 611
AbstentionOthers
1 / 611
Senate of the Republic check YesPdL, LN, MpA
173 / 322
☒ NoPD, IdV, UdC–SVP–AUT, Others
137 / 312
AbstentionOthers
2 / 312

Party breakdown

Beginning of term

Ministers

12
4
4
1

Ministers and other members

End of term

Ministers

19
3
1
1

Ministers and other members

Council of Ministers

Office Name Party Term
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi PdL 2008–2011
Minister of Foreign Affairs Franco Frattini PdL 2008–2011
Minister of the Interior Roberto Maroni LN 2008–2011
Minister of Justice Angelino Alfano PdL 2008–2011
Nitto Francesco Palma PdL 2011
Minister of Defence Ignazio La Russa PdL 2008–2011
Minister of Economy and Finance Giulio Tremonti PdL 2008–2011
Minister of Economic Development Claudio Scajola PdL 2008–2010
Silvio Berlusconi (ad interim) PdL 2010
Paolo Romani PdL 2010–2011
Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies Luca Zaia LN 2008–2010
Giancarlo Galan PdL 2010–2011
Francesco Saverio Romano PT 2011
Minister of the Environment Stefania Prestigiacomo PdL 2008–2011
Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Altero Matteoli PdL 2008–2011
Minister of Labour and Social Policies Maurizio Sacconi PdL 2008–2011
Minister of Health Ferruccio Fazio Independent 2009–2011
Minister of Education, University and Research Mariastella Gelmini PdL 2008–2011
Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities Sandro Bondi PdL 2008–2011
Giancarlo Galan PdL 2011
Minister of Regional Affairs and Territorial Cohesion Raffaele Fitto PdL 2008–2011
Minister for the Implementation of the Government Program Gianfranco Rotondi PdL 2008–2011
Minister of Public Administration Renato Brunetta PdL 2008–2011
Minister for Equal Opportunities Mara Carfagna PdL 2008–2011
Minister of European Affairs Andrea Ronchi PdL / FLI 2008–2011
Anna Maria Bernini PdL 2010–2011
Minister for Parliamentary Relations Elio Vito PdL 2008–2011
Minister for Federal Reforms Umberto Bossi LN 2008–2011
Minister of Youth Policies Giorgia Meloni PdL 2008–2011
Minister for Legislative Simplification Roberto Calderoli LN 2008–2011
Minister for Subsidiarity and Decentralization Aldo Brancher PdL 2010
Minister of Tourism Michela Vittoria Brambilla PdL 2009–2011
Secretary of the Council of Ministers Gianni Letta PdL 2008–2011

Composition

Office Portrait Name Term of office Party
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Undersecretaries
Minister of Foreign Affairs Franco Frattini 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Undersecretaries
Minister of the Interior Roberto Maroni 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 Northern League
Undersecretaries
Minister of Justice Angelino Alfano 8 May 2008 – 27 July 2011 The People of Freedom
Nitto Francesco Palma 27 July 2011 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Undersecretaries
Minister of Defence Ignazio La Russa 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Undersecretaries
Minister of Economy and Finance Giulio Tremonti 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Deputy Minister
Undersecretaries
  • Luigi Casero (PdL)
  • Alberto Giorgetti (PdL)
  • Giuseppe Vegas (PdL) (until 21 May 2009)
  • Daniele Molgora (LN) (until 20 May 2010)
  • Nicola Cosentino (PdL) (until 15 July 2010)
  • Sonia Viale (LN) (20 May 2010 – 5 May 2011)
  • Bruno Cesario (PT) (since 5 May 2011)
  • Antonio Gentile (PdL) (since 5 May 2011)
Minister of Economic Development Claudio Scajola 8 May 2008 – 5 May 2010 The People of Freedom
Silvio Berlusconi
(Acting)		 5 May 2010 – 4 October 2010 The People of Freedom
Paolo Romani 4 October 2010 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Deputy Ministers
Undersecretaries
Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies Luca Zaia 8 May 2008 – 16 April 2010 Northern League
Giancarlo Galan 16 April 2010 – 23 March 2011 The People of Freedom
Francesco Saverio Romano 23 March 2011 – 16 November 2011 People and Territory
Undersecretaries
  • Antonio Buonfiglio (FLI)[lower-alpha 3] (until 17 November 2010)
  • Roberto Rosso (PdL) (since 5 May 2011)
Minister of the Environment Stefania Prestigiacomo 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Undersecretaries
Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Altero Matteoli 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Deputy Ministers
  • Roberto Castelli (LN) (21 May 2009 – 16 November 2011)
  • Aurelio Misiti (RA) (14 Oct 2011 – 16 November 2011)
Undersecretaries
Minister of Labour and Social Policies Maurizio Sacconi 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Deputy Minister
Undersecretaries
Minister of Education, University and Research Mariastella Gelmini 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Undersecretaries
  • Giuseppe Pizza (DC)
  • Guido Viceconte (PdL) (5 May 2011 – 14 October 2011)
  • Giuseppe Galati (PdL) (since 14 October 2011)
Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities Sandro Bondi 8 May 2008 – 23 March 2011 The People of Freedom
Giancarlo Galan 23 March 2011 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Undersecretaries
  • Francesco Giro (PdL)
  • Riccardo Villari (CN) (since 5 May 2011)
Minister of Health Ferruccio Fazio 13 December 2009 – 16 November 2011 Independent
Undersecretaries
Minister for Parliamentary Relations
(without portfolio)		 Elio Vito 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Undersecretary
Minister of Public Administration
(without portfolio)		 Renato Brunetta 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Undersecretary
Minister of Regional Affairs and Territorial Cohesion
(without portfolio)		 Raffaele Fitto 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Minister for Equal Opportunities
(without portfolio)		 Mara Carfagna 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Minister of European Affairs
(without portfolio)		 Andrea Ronchi 8 May 2008 – 15 November 2010 Future and Freedom
Before 30 July 2010:
The People of Freedom
Anna Maria Bernini 15 November 2010 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Minister of Youth
(without portfolio)		 Giorgia Meloni 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Minister for the Implementation of the Government Program
(without portfolio)		 Gianfranco Rotondi 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Undersecretary
Minister for Federal Reforms
(without portfolio)		 Umberto Bossi 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 Northern League
Undersecretary
Minister for Legislative Simplification
(without portfolio)		 Roberto Calderoli 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 Northern League
Undersecretary
  • Maurizio Balocchi (LN) (until 14 February 2010)
  • Francesco Belsito (LN) (since 22 February 2010)
Minister of Tourism
(without portfolio)		 Michela Vittoria Brambilla 8 May 2009 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Minister for Subsidiarity and Decentralization
(without portfolio)		 Aldo Brancher 18 June 2010 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
Secretary of the Council of Ministers
(Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers)		 Gianni Letta 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 The People of Freedom
  1. ↑ before 30 October 2010: PdL
  2. ↑ before 22 January 2010: MpA
  3. 1 2 3 4 before 30 July 2010: PdL
  4. ↑ before 7 November 2011: PT

References

  1. ↑ "Governo Berlusconi IV". www.governo.it (in Italian). 11 November 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "Svolta di Berlusconi, arriva il Pdl: "Forza Italia-An sotto stesso simbolo"" (in Italian). La Stampa. 8 February 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
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