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
- NOVEMBER 8, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. SERGIO D’ELIA REPLIES TO QUESTION TIME ON SADDAM DEATH PENALTY
a question time was held at the Foreign Commission of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies regarding the death penalty handed down to Saddam Hussein.
- NOVEMBER 7, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. PANNELLA READY FOR APPOINTMENT TO SAVE SADDAM FROM EXECUTION
Hands Off Cain President Marco Pannella reaffirmed his availability to be appointed to Iraq in order to save Saddam Hussein from the death penalty, underlining that he would have to be given the task by the Italian government.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Italy urged Iraqi authorities not to execute Saddam Hussein...
Italy urged Iraqi authorities not to execute Saddam Hussein, saying it would be a mistake both ethically and politically.
- NOVEMBER 5, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
SADDAM HUSSEIN. DISGRACE OF THIS DEATH PENALTY FALLS ON EUROPE, HOC
following the death sentence handed down to Saddam Hussein, Sergio D’Elia, Secretary Gen. of Hands Off Cain, and Elisabetta Zamparutti, Treasurer, declared: “A court formed by Shiites and Kurds condemned to death the Sunni Saddam.
- OCTOBER 26, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. NO MORATORIUM RESOLUTION THIS YEAR, FOREIGN MINISTER
there should be “European consensus” for a UN resolution for a universal moratorium on executions, said Italy’s Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema.
- OCTOBER 26, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. BELATED D’ALEMA CLARIFICATION SERIOUS, HANDS OFF CAIN
the foreign Commission of the Chamber of Deputies held an informal meeting between its Presidency and Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema.
- OCTOBER 19, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER WILL OF PARLIAMENT, CHAMBER PRESIDENT BERTINOTTI
“I consider as very important the unanimous position taken by the Foreign Commission of the Chamber of Deputies regarding the UN moratorium on capital executions. It is the second time in two and a half months that the Lower House has taken such a stance.
- OCTOBER 19, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. RESOLUTION FOR UN MORATORIUM APPROVED AT LOWER HOUSE
the Foreign Commission of Italy’s Lower House approved a resolution for a UN moratorium on capital executions, despite government opposition.
- OCTOBER 19, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. HANDS OFF CAIN REPLIES TO UNDERSECRETARY VERNETTI
Elisabetta Zamparutti, responsible for Hands Off Cain’s UN based initiatives, replies to Undersecretary Vernetti’s comments defining as “adventurous” the presentation of a pro-moratorium resolution at the ongoing UN General Assembly.
- OCTOBER 10, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
BRUSSELS. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS BACK UN MORATORIUM
a group of European Parliamentarians sent a letter to the European Council and to EU Ministers asking they support a moratorium on executions at the UN General Assembly.
- OCTOBER 10, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. DEATH PENALTY ABOLISHED FROM THE CONSTITUTION IN FIRST READING
the Chamber of Deputies approved the first reading of the law repealing all references to the death penalty in Italy’s Constitution.
- OCTOBER 10, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. RESOLUTION FOR UN MORATORIUM DEPOSITED AT CHAMBER
a resolution was deposited at the Chamber of Deputies’ Foreign Commission asking the government to “fully and immediately put into action” the motion established in Parliament last July 27 to present at the ongoing UN General Assembly a resolution for a U