Legislature XVI of Italy


The Legislature XVI of Italy started on 29 April 2008 and ended on 14 March 2013. Its composition resulted from the snap election of 13–14 April 2008, called after President Giorgio Napolitano dissolved the houses on 6 February 2008. The dissolution of the Parliament was a consequence of the defeat of the incumbent government led by Romano Prodi during a vote of confidence in the Senate.
The legislature was dissolved by President Napolitano on 22 December 2012, a few months before the end of its natural five-year term.

Government

The outgoing Prodi Cabinet remained in charge until 8 May 2008, to handle the "current affairs".

Chamber of Deputies

The number of elected deputies is 630.
The number of elected senators was 315. At the start of the legislature there were seven life senators, making the total number of senators 322. At the end of the legislature, after the deaths of Cossiga, Scalfaro, Levi-Montalcini and Pininfarina, and the nomination of a new life senator the total number of senators went down to 319.