Italy
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- parliamentary republic
- CONSTITUTION
- January 1, 1948; amended several times
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on civil law; the Constitutional Court can review certain legislative texts
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, Chamber of Deputies and Senate
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Constitutional Court (15 judges, one third appointed by the Head of State, one third elected by Parliament, one third by the judiciary)
RELIGIONS
90% Catholics, 10% others
From the country
FEBRUARY 1, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYEP CALLS FOR UNIVERSAL MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
the European Parliament adopted a joint resolution in favour of a universal moratorium on the death penalty, with 591 votes in favour, 45 against and 31 abstentions.
JANUARY 29, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. ITALY APPEALS TO AU TO HELP IMPLEMENT MORATORIUM
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi appealed to African leaders to help Italy in its attempt to have capital punishment suspended throghout the world. "We have to be pro life and against death in the same way that we are against injustice and suffering,"
JANUARY 24, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYTHE APPEAL BY THE MAYORS OF EUROPE FOR THE MORATORIUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY
so far, 18 Mayors of European capital cities have signed the Mayor of Rome’s appeal to get the International Community to establish a moratorium on the death penalty as soon as possible, with the ultimate goal being its complete abolition.
JANUARY 24, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. THE RADICALS THANK MAYOR VELTRONI
Minister Emma Bonino, the directors of Hands Off Cain Marco Pannella, Sergio D'Elia and Elisabetta
JANUARY 23, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER DEFENDS EXECUTIONS
following talks with his Italian counterpart, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari defended the execution of Saddam Hussein and other former Iraqi officials, which prompted Italy to lead a push for a worldwide moratorium against the death penalty.
- JANUARY 17, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
VELTRONI WANTS SUPPORT OF EUROPEAN MAYORS FOR MORATORIUM AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
“I want to convince the Mayors of all European cities to take a stand and keep up the battle against the death penalty,” Walter Veltroni, the Mayor of Rome, said.
JANUARY 16, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYWRITTEN DECLARATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT FOR A UNIVERSAL MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
the leaders of all political groups of the European Parliament, with the exception of the extreme right, have signed a declaration for a universal moratorium on capital punishment in view of its abolition.
- JANUARY 15, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. D'ELIA: ANOTHER CONTRIBUTION TO THE ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE, UN MORATORIUM NEEDED IMMEDIATELY
Sergio D'Elia, Secretary of Hands Off Cain
- JANUARY 15, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
BARROSO AND PRODI CONDEMN IRAQ HANGINGS
the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso
- JANUARY 10, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY LEADS CAMPAIGN AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
all Italian political parties are backing the decision "to campaign at the United Nations for a global ban on the death penalty" announced by Prime Minister Romano Prodi. "No crime can justify one person killing another," Prodi said.
JANUARY 10, 2007GreeceDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM. SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL BACKS ITALIAN INITIATIVE
main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader George Papandreou had a telephone
JANUARY 9, 2007Council of EuropeDEATH PENALTYCOUNCIL OF EUROPE BACKS ITALY’S CALLS FOR MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
Italy and the Council of Europe are working together to gather as much support as possible for a United Nations General Assembly based initiative for a worldwide moratorium on executions with view to full abolition of the death penalty.