Fourth Berlusconi government

The fourth Berlusconi government was the 60th government of Italy, in office from 8 May 2008 to 16 November 2011. 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.

Fourth Berlusconi government
60th Cabinet of Italy
Date formed	8 May 2008 (2008-05-08)
Date dissolved	16 November 2011 (2011-11-16) (1,288 days)
People and organisations
Head of state	Giorgio Napolitano
Head of government	Silvio Berlusconi
No. of ministers	25 (incl. Prime Minister)
Ministers removed	5 resigned
Total no. of members	30 (incl. Prime Minister)
Member parties	PdL, LN, PT (since March 2011)
Status in legislature	Majority (coalition) Chamber of Deputies: 343 / 630 (54%) Senate: 174 / 322 (54%)
Opposition parties	PD, IdV, UdC, FLI (since Nov. 2010), MpA (since Nov. 2010)
History
Election	2008 election
Legislature term	XVI Legislature (2008–2013)
Incoming formation	Berlusconi IV Cabinet formation, 2008
Predecessor	Second Prodi government
Successor	Monti government

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.

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

Main article: Political career of Silvio Berlusconi

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 301, 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 and 1 abstention, 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) 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	Y Yes	PdL, LN, MpA	335 / 611
	N No	PD, UdC, IdV, SVP–ALD, Others	275 / 611
	Abstention	Others	1 / 611
Senate of the Republic	Y Yes	PdL, LN, MpA	173 / 322
	N No	PD, IdV, UdC–SVP–AUT, Others	137 / 312
	Abstention	Others	2 / 312

Party breakdown

Beginning of term

Ministers

Forza Italia	12
National Alliance	4
Northern League	4
Christian Democracy for Autonomies	1

Ministers and other members

• The People of Freedom (PdL): Prime minister, 17 ministers, 30 undersecretaries
  • Forza Italia (FI): Prime minister, 12 ministers, 17 undersecretaries
  • National Alliance (AN): 4 ministers, 8 undersecretaries
  • Christian Democracy for Autonomies (DCA): 1 minister
  • Liberal Populars (PL): 1 undersecretary
  • Independents: 4 undersecretaries
• Northern League (LN): 4 ministers, 5 undersecretaries
• Movement for Autonomy (MpA): 2 undersecretaries
• Christian Democracy (DC): 1 undersecretary
• Independents: 1 undersecretary

End of term

Ministers

The People of Freedom	19
Northern League	3
People and Territory	1
Independents	1

Ministers and other members

• The People of Freedom (PdL): Prime minister, 18 ministers, 24 undersecretaries
• Northern League (LN): 3 ministers, 1 deputy minister, 4 undersecretaries
• People and Territory (PT): 1 minister, 1 deputy minister, 2 undersecretaries
  • The Populars of Italy Tomorrow (PID): 1 minister
  • Popular Action (AP): 1 deputy minister
  • Movement of National Responsibility (MRN): 1 undersecretary
  • La Discussione: 1 undersecretary
• Independents: 1 minister, 2 undersecretaries
• Republicans-Actionists (RA): 1 deputy minister
• Great South (GS): 2 undersecretaries
• Christian Democracy (DC): 1 undersecretary
• The Right (Destra): 1 undersecretary
• National Cohesion (CN): 1 undersecretary

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 Gianni Letta (PdL) – Delegated to the Authority for the Security of the Republic Paolo Bonaiuti (PdL) – Delegated to Information, Communications and Publishing Carlo Giovanardi (PdL) – Delegated to Family Policies, the Fight Against Drugs, and the Civil Service Gianfranco Micciché (GS) – Delegated to the Inter-ministerial Committee for Economic Planning Rocco Crimi (PdL) – Delegated to Sport Michela Vittoria Brambilla (PdL) – Delegated to Tourism (until 8 May 2009) Guido Bertolaso (Ind.) – Delegated to the Solution of the Waste Management Crisis in Campania and to the Coordination of Civil Protection to a European and International Level (until 11 November 2010)
Minister of Foreign Affairs		Franco Frattini	8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011		The People of Freedom
	Undersecretaries Stefania Craxi (PdL) Alfredo Mantica (PdL) Vincenzo Scotti (NS) (until 7 November 2011)
Minister of the Interior		Roberto Maroni	8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011		Northern League
	Undersecretaries Alfredo Mantovano (PdL) Michelino Davico (LN) Nitto Francesco Palma (PdL) (until 27 July 2011) Sonia Viale (LN) (since 5 May 2011) Guido Viceconte (PdL) (since 14 October 2011)
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 Elisabetta Casellati (PdL) Giacomo Caliendo (PdL)
Minister of Defence		Ignazio La Russa	8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011		The People of Freedom
	Undersecretaries Guido Crosetto (PdL) Giuseppe Cossiga (PdL)
Minister of Economy and Finance		Giulio Tremonti	8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011		The People of Freedom
	Deputy Minister Giuseppe Vegas (PdL) (29 Mary 2009 – 15 December 2010) 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 Adolfo Urso (FLI) (30 June 2009 – 17 November 2010) Paolo Romani (PdL) (30 June 2009 – 4 October 2010 Catia Polidori (PT) (14 October 2011 – 16 November 2011) Undersecretaries Ugo Martinat (PdL) (until 28 March 2009) Paolo Romani (PdL) (until 30 June 2009) Catia Polidori (until 14 October 2011) Adolfo Urso (PdL) (8 May 2008 – 30 June 2009) Stefano Saglia (PdL) (since 30 April 2009) Daniela Melchiorre (LD) (5 May 2011 – 27 May 2011)
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) (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 Roberto Menia (FLI) (until 17 November 2010) Giampiero Catone (PT) (since 5 May 2011) Elio Vittorio Belcastro (GS) (since 28 July 2011)
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 Bartolomeo Giachino (Ind.) Mario Mantovani (PdL) Giuseppe Maria Reina (MpA) (until 17 November 2010)
Minister of Labour and Social Policies		Maurizio Sacconi	8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011		The People of Freedom
	Deputy Minister Ferruccio Fazio (Ind.) (21 May 2009 – 14 December 2009) Undersecretaries Francesca Martini (LN) (until 4 February 2010) Eugenia Roccella (PdL) (until 4 February 2010) Pasquale Viespoli (FLI) (until 8 October 2010) Nello Musumeci (LD) (since 15 April 2011) Luca Bellotti (PdL) (since 5 May 2011)
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 Francesca Martini (LN) (since 4 February 2010) Eugenia Roccella (PdL) (since 4 February 2010)
Minister for Parliamentary Relations (without portfolio)		Elio Vito	8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011		The People of Freedom
	Undersecretary Laura Ravetto (PdL) (since 4 March 2010)
Minister of Public Administration (without portfolio)		Renato Brunetta	8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011		The People of Freedom
	Undersecretary Andrea Augello (PdL) (since 4 March 2010)
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 Daniela Santanchè (PdL) (since 4 March 2010)
Minister for Federal Reforms (without portfolio)		Umberto Bossi	8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011		Northern League
	Undersecretary Aldo Brancher (PdL) (until 18 June 2010)
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

External links

• Italian Government - Berlusconi IV Cabinet