1996 Italian General Election
21 April 1996 · The Second Republic · 630 seats, 163 for a majority
The 1996 Italian general election was held on 21 April 1996 to elect members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic. Romano Prodi, leader of the centre-left The Olive Tree, won the election, narrowly defeating Silvio Berlusconi, who led the centre-right Pole for Freedoms.
Prime Minister before
Lamberto Dini
Independent
Prime Minister after
Romano Prodi
The Olive Tree
Largest force
Independent
285 of 630 seats
Turnout
82.9%
The result
Independent
Romano Prodi · +20 seats
285
seats
Forza Italia (FI)
Silvio Berlusconi · 20.6% of votes
37
seats
National Alliance (AN)
15.7% of votes
28
seats
Democratic Party of the Left (PDS)
21.1% of votes
26
seats
Northern League (LN)
Umberto Bossi · 10.1% of votes
20
seats
Communist Refoundation Party (PRC)
Fausto Bertinotti · 8.6% of votes
20
seats
Christian Democratic Centre – United Christian Democrats (CCD–CDU)
5.8% of votes
12
seats
Italian Renewal (RI)
4.3% of votes
8
seats
Populars for Prodi (PPI–UD–PRI–SVP)
6.8% of votes
4
seats
190 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.