Italy's 2018 election produced a hung parliament, leading to a populist coalition government between the Five Star Movement and the League.
Key Facts
- Election date
- 4 March 2018
- Chamber seats contested
- 630 seats
- Senate seats contested
- 315 elective seats
- Government formed
- 1 June 2018
- Prime Minister appointed
- Giuseppe Conte
- Coalition formed
- Five Star Movement + League
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
President Sergio Mattarella dissolved the Italian Parliament on 28 December 2017, triggering a general election. The outgoing centre-left government under the Democratic Party faced declining support, while anti-establishment and right-wing parties gained momentum amid widespread dissatisfaction with the political mainstream.
On 4 March 2018, Italian voters elected 630 members of the Chamber of Deputies and 315 elective senators. No party or coalition won an outright majority. The centre-right coalition led by the League's Matteo Salvini won the most seats as a coalition, while the Five Star Movement led by Luigi Di Maio won the most votes of any single party, producing a hung parliament.
After three months of negotiations, the Five Star Movement and the League formed a populist coalition government on 1 June 2018, with Giuseppe Conte as Prime Minister. The coalition collapsed in August 2019 when the League withdrew support. A new M5S–centre-left government then formed, later replaced in 2021 by a national unity government under Mario Draghi.
Political Outcome
Hung parliament; centre-right coalition won plurality of seats, M5S won plurality as single party; First Conte government formed 1 June 2018 as M5S–League coalition.
Centre-left Democratic Party-led government
Populist M5S–League coalition government under Giuseppe Conte