Legislature V of Italy


The Legislature V of Italy was the 5th legislature of the Italian Republic, and lasted from 5 June 1968 until 24 May 1972. Its composition was the one resulting from the general election of 19 May 1968.
It was the first republican legislature to be dismissed before its term's natural expiration.

Main chronology

The period of the late 1960s–1970s came to be known as the Opposti Estremismi,, later renamed anni di piombo because of a wave of political terrorist attacks.
After another short Leone's government, on 12 December 1968 Mariano Rumor sworn is as prime minister for the first time, leading a government composed by DC, PSU and PRI.
Between 1968 and 1970 a notable number of progressive reforms were carried out. On 11 December 1969 a new law extended access to higher education to all students holding a higher secondary school diploma. It was formerly limited to students who came from classical, and in some cases, scientific, curricula. Another bill, approved on 30 April 1969, introduced broad provisions covering pensions under the general scheme. The multiplying coefficient was increased to 1.85%, applied to average earnings of the best 3 years in the last 5 years of work. A social pension was also introduced for people over the age of 65 with low incomes and not eligible for any type of pension. In addition, cost of living indexation for all pensions was introduced.
Rumor led three different governments. The second one, from August 1969 to February 1970, was a DC-only government; its collapse led to a 45-day long period without government. After this period, which included an attempt by former Prime Minister Amintore Fanfani to form a government, Rumor led a new coalition with PSI, PRI and PSDI from March until July 1970.
After another centre-left government led by Emilio Colombo, in February 1972 Giulio Andreotti was asked to form a new government which didn't obtained the confidence of the Parliament. On 28 February 1972 President Giovanni Leone dismissed the Parliament and called the first snap election in the history of the Italian Republic.

Presidential election

On 9 December 1971 the Parliament and the representatives of the 20 Italian regions met to elect the fifth President of Italy. On 24 December 1971 the Christian democrat Giovanni Leone was elected on the twenty-third ballot with 518 votes out of 1008.

Parliamentary composition

Chamber of Deputies

President: Sandro Pertini, elected on 5 June 1968Vice Presidents: Guido Gonella, Benigno Zaccagnini, Lucio Mario Luzzatto, Arrigo Boldrini, Roberto Lucifredi

Senate of the Republic

Senators for Life

SenatorMotivationAppointed byFromTill
Giovanni GronchiFormer President of Italyex officioPrevious legislatureNext legislature
Cesare MerzagoraMerits in the social fieldPresident Antonio SegniPrevious legislatureNext legislature
Ferruccio ParriMerits in the social fieldPresident Antonio SegniPrevious legislatureNext legislature
Meuccio RuiniMerits in the social and scientific fieldPresident Antonio SegniPrevious legislature6 March 1970
Antonio SegniFormer President of Italyex officioPrevious legislatureNext legislature
Eugenio MontaleMerits in the literary fieldPresident Giuseppe SaragatPrevious legislatureNext legislature
Giovanni LeoneMerits in the social fieldPresident Giuseppe SaragatPrevious legislature29 December 1971
Pietro NenniMerits in the social fieldPresident Giuseppe Saragat25 November 1970Next legislature
Giuseppe SaragatFormer President of Italyex officio29 December 1971Next legislature
Amintore FanfaniMerits in the social fieldPresident Giovanni Leone10 March 1972Next legislature