The 2013 Italian election produced a hung Senate and forced a broad grand coalition, reshaping Italian politics until 2018.
Key Facts
- Chamber seats contested
- 630 seats
- Elective Senate seats contested
- 315 seats
- Election dates
- 24–25 February 2013
- Winning alliance (Chamber)
- Italy Common Good (centre-left, led by PD)
- Senate result
- Hung parliament — no outright majority
- Grand coalition formed
- April 2013
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Italy's outgoing technocratic government under Mario Monti had pursued austerity measures, fuelling public discontent. Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right bloc remained a major political force, while a new anti-establishment movement led by comedian Beppe Grillo was rapidly gaining support, fragmenting the electorate ahead of the scheduled parliamentary elections.
General elections were held on 24–25 February 2013 to elect 630 Chamber of Deputies members and 315 elective senators. The centre-left Italy Common Good alliance won a clear Chamber majority via a majority bonus, narrowly beating Berlusconi's coalition in the popular vote. The Five Star Movement placed third. No group secured a Senate majority, producing a hung parliament.
A grand coalition of the centre-left, Berlusconi's centre-right and Monti's centrists was assembled in April 2013. When Berlusconi and his allies withdrew and relaunched as Forza Italia six months later, the Democratic Party came to dominate the governing coalition, a configuration that persisted until the 2018 general election.
Political Outcome
Centre-left Italy Common Good won a Chamber majority via bonus seats; hung Senate led to an April 2013 grand coalition government.
Technocratic government of Prime Minister Mario Monti
Grand coalition dominated by the Democratic Party (PD)