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
OCTOBER 26, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALY. 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 19, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALY. 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 PENALTYITALY. 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 19, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALY. 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 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
OCTOBER 10, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALY. 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 PENALTYBRUSSELS. 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 9, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALIAN GOVERNMENT NOT RESPECTING CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, HANDS OFF CAIN
the government should commit itself to presenting a resolution for a moratorium on executions at the ongoing UN General Assembly, even without unanimous support from the European Union. At a press conference held in Rome, Hands Off Cain appealed to the It
SEPTEMBER 25, 2006IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYITALY-INDONESIA. HANDS OFF CAIN ADHERES TO CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY VIGIL
Hands Off Cain announced it would participate in today’s vigil, promoted by Christian Democratic party leader Pierferdinando Casini, outside the Indonesian embassy in Rome.
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2006IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
ITALY-INDONESIA. D'ALEMA TO WIRAJUDA: STOP EXECUTION OF CHRISTIANS
Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema made "a strong appeal" to his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda to make Jakarta authorities stop the execution of the three Christians sentenced to death in Poso.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2006ChinaDEATH PENALTYITALY-CHINA. DEATH PENALTY ISSUE RAISED
“Yesterday and today, we brought up the issue of the death penalty with various members of the government of the People's Republic of China, hoping for a commitment in the reduction of crimes for which it is applicable,” stated Undersecretary for Foreign
SEPTEMBER 18, 2006ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA. HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS HAVE BEGUN, ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER
“We have commenced a structured dialogue with China on human rights issues,” stated Italy’s Prime Minister Romano Prodi after meeting his Chinese counterpart Wen Jabao in Beijing. “Dialogue is an important instrument for strengthening the preservation of