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| Giuseppe Conte government | |
|---|---|
| Cabinet name | Conte Cabinet |
| Cabinet number | 66th and 67th |
| Jurisdiction | Italy |
| Incumbent | 2018–2021 |
| Date formed | 1 June 2018 |
| Date dissolved | 13 February 2021 |
| Head of government | Giuseppe Conte |
| State head | Sergio Mattarella |
| Political party | Five Star Movement; League; Democratic Party; Italia Viva; independent technocrats |
| Election | 2018 general election; 2019 government crisis |
| Legislature status | Coalition governments |
| Predecessor | Gentiloni Cabinet |
| Successor | Draghi Cabinet |
Giuseppe Conte government
The Conte-led administrations were two successive Italian cabinets (2018–2019 and 2019–2021) presided over by jurist Giuseppe Conte, formed after the 2018 Italian general election and reconstituted following the 2019 crisis. Conte served under President Sergio Mattarella and navigated coalitions involving the Five Star Movement, the League, and later the Democratic Party and Italia Viva. The governments addressed crises including the Migrant crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and tensions with the European Union over fiscal rules.
After the 2018 Italian general election, no single bloc achieved a majority, leading to negotiations among the Five Star Movement, the League, and other actors. President Sergio Mattarella engaged with party leaders such as Luigi Di Maio, Matteo Salvini, Nicola Zingaretti, and Matteo Renzi to identify a prime minister. Conte, a law professor previously unknown in high politics, was proposed to lead a cabinet containing figures like Giancarlo Giorgetti, Giuseppe Tria, Paolo Savona, and Danilo Toninelli. Initial controversy arose over the nomination of Paolo Savona as Minister of Economy, provoking a standoff with President Sergio Mattarella and discussions referencing the Treaty on European Union and European Central Bank norms. Conte was sworn in after concessions, marking the start of the first Conte cabinet.
The first Conte cabinet combined the Five Star Movement and the League with ministers such as Luigi Di Maio as Deputy Prime Minister and Matteo Salvini as Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister. Technocrats and independents like Giuseppe Tria (Economy) and Alfonso Bonafede (Justice) joined. After the 2019 collapse triggered by Matteo Salvini's withdrawal, Conte formed a second cabinet combining the Five Star Movement with the Democratic Party and support from smaller groups; notable figures included Luigi Di Maio, Roberto Speranza (Health), Lucia Azzolina (Education), and Luciana Lamorgese (Interior). The centrist party Italia Viva led by Matteo Renzi later extracted ministries such as Maria Cristina Messa's portfolio reshuffles and influenced appointments, while independent technocrats like Daniele Franco featured in economic roles.
Conte administrations pursued measures spanning immigration, justice, social policy, and public administration. The first cabinet implemented the Citizens' Income (reddito di cittadinanza) spearheaded by Luigi Di Maio, and a lowered retirement scheme known as Quota 100 supported by League figures including Giancarlo Giorgetti. Interior policies under Matteo Salvini included the Security Decree and closures of ports involving Matteo Salvini's directives toward NGOs like Sea-Watch and Mare Jonio. Judicial and anti-corruption initiatives invoked the ANAC (National Anti-Corruption Authority), while education reforms involved Lucia Azzolina and debates with unions such as the CGIL. The second cabinet prioritized public health resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic with ministers Roberto Speranza and regional presidents like Luca Zaia, while implementing emergency powers coordinated with institutions including the Supreme Court of Cassation and local administrations.
Conte cabinets managed relations with the European Union, navigating tensions during the 2018–2019 Italian financial crisis and negotiating with the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen and Jean-Claude Juncker. The governments negotiated budgetary stances regarding the Stability and Growth Pact and interactions with the European Central Bank and Mario Draghi as a prominent EU figure. Conte engaged in diplomacy with France and Germany and attended summits like the European Council and G7; bilateral relations with Libya and negotiations on migration involved the GNA and actors such as Fayez al-Sarraj. Conte's administrations balanced ties with Russia—including tensions related to Gazprom and the Moscow–Rome relationship—and transatlantic links with the United States and NATO meetings involving Jens Stoltenberg.
Economic policy under Conte included contested budget drafts confronting the European Commission and institutions like the International Monetary Fund. Measures included the Citizens' Income, Quota 100, taxation debates about flat-tax proposals backed by the League, and pension adjustments affecting INPS. The second cabinet faced recessionary shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic, deploying stimulus via decrees such as the Cura Italia decree and later the Decreto Rilancio, coordinating with the Bank of Italy and the European Investment Bank. Recovery planning referenced the Next Generation EU package and required interaction with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and figures like Giuseppe Tria and Daniele Franco on debt management and structural reforms.
Both Conte governments confronted parliamentary challenges and confidence votes in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate of the Republic. The 2019 crisis began when Matteo Salvini called a confidence withdrawal; subsequent negotiations between the Five Star Movement and the Democratic Party led Conte to win new confidence votes. Later tensions with Italia Viva prompted resignation offers and votes of confidence around 2021; debates involved leaders Matteo Renzi and Nicola Zingaretti. The cabinets weathered motions related to corruption scandals, regional elections in Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy, and legal scrutiny by the Constitutional Court of Italy.
Conte resigned to President Sergio Mattarella amid the 2021 crisis initiated by Matteo Renzi's Italia Viva, leading to consultations involving parties like the Democratic Party, Five Star Movement, and Forza Italia. President Sergio Mattarella appointed Mario Draghi to form a national unity government, resulting in the Draghi cabinet succeeding Conte. Conte's legacy includes policies such as the Citizens' Income, pandemic management decisions and emergency decrees, strained EU budgetary negotiations, and a reshaped Italian party system with impacts on leaders like Matteo Salvini, Luigi Di Maio, Matteo Renzi, and Nicola Zingaretti. International observers compared Conte's tenure to coalition precedents like the Monti Cabinet and debates about presidential powers involving Sergio Mattarella continue.
Category:Italian governments