Italy flagPolitics & Government Guide

Political system, governance structure, stability indicators, and democratic institutions in Italy

Italy is a parliamentary republic characterized by a fragmented multi-party system and frequent coalition governments. The current government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Brothers of Italy since 2022, faces challenges including migration policies and labor reforms. Political stability remains moderate, with Italy classified as a flawed democracy by the Economist Intelligence Unit in 2024.

Political Stability

Moderate

Corruption Index

Moderate

Democracy Index

Good

Government Type

Parliamentary Republic

Legal System

Civil law system

Head of State

President Sergio Mattarella(since 2015)

Head of Government

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni(Brothers of Italy)since 2022

Political Indicators

Political Stability
0.65Rank #45

Scale: 0-1

Moderately Stable

Political Stability Index (2024)

Corruption Index
56Rank #42

Scale: 0-100

Transparency International (2024)

Press Freedom
72.5Rank #32

Scale: 0-100

Reporters Without Borders (2024)

Democracy Index
7.92Rank #30

Scale: 0-10

Flawed Democracy

Economist Intelligence Unit (2024)

Legislature

Type:bicameral
Upper House:Senate of the Republic (200 seats)
Lower House:Chamber of Deputies (400 seats)

Major Political Parties

Brothers of Italy(FdI)

Right-wing

118 seats
Democratic Party(PD)

Center-left

95 seats
Five Star Movement(M5S)

Populist

52 seats
Lega(League)

Right-wing

40 seats

Voting Rights

Italian citizens aged 18 and over have the right to vote in national elections. EU citizens residing in Italy can vote in local and European Parliament elections. Full voting rights in national elections require Italian citizenship.

Recent Developments

  • Implementation of Digital Nomads Visa in 2024
  • Reform of fixed-term employment contracts in 2024
  • Approval of security bill increasing penalties for protest-related offenses in 2024
  • Increased offshore processing of asylum applications and migration control policies in 2024
Voting Age18
SuffrageUniversal
Constitution1948
Regions20