2018 Italian general election facts for kids

The emblem of Italy

The 2018 Italian general election was a big vote held in Italy on 4 March 2018. During this election, people voted for new politicians to represent them. These politicians would work in the two main parts of Italy's parliament: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

The last election happened in 2013. Back then, the Democratic Party, which supports ideas like helping everyone in society, won the most seats.

In the 2018 election, a newer party called the Five Star Movement received the most votes. This party is known for being populist, meaning they often say they speak for ordinary people against the powerful. About three months after the election, the Five Star Movement teamed up with a right-wing party called the Lega Nord. Together, they formed a new government. An independent politician named Giuseppe Conte became the Prime Minister of Italy on 1 June 2018.

What Political Parties Ran in 2018?

Many different political parties took part in the 2018 Italian election. Each party had its own ideas and leaders. Here are some of the most important ones:

Main Political Parties and Their Ideas

• Democratic Party (PD): This party was led by Matteo Renzi. They believe in socially liberal ideas, which means they support individual freedoms and social justice. They also support social democracy, aiming for a fair society where the government helps people.
• Five Star Movement (M5S): Led by Luigi Di Maio, this party is known for being populist. They are also anti-establishment, meaning they often challenge traditional political systems. They care a lot about the environment and are somewhat eurosceptic, which means they are cautious about the European Union.
• Forza Italia (FI): This party was led by Silvio Berlusconi. They are generally liberal conservative, supporting free markets and traditional values. They also have Christian democratic ideas, often linked to Christian values in politics.
• Democrats and Progressives (MDP): Led by Roberto Speranza, this party is considered progressive, meaning they want to make society better through reforms. They are also a left-wing party, often focusing on equality and social support.
• Popular Alternative (AP): This party was led by Beatrice Lorenzin. They are a centrist party, meaning they are in the middle of the political spectrum. Like Forza Italia, they are also liberal conservative and Christian democratic.
• Lega Nord (LN): Led by Matteo Salvini, this party is regionalist, meaning they focus on the needs of specific regions in Italy. They are also populist, eurosceptic (cautious about the EU), and often anti-immigration.

How Did People Think Parties Would Do?

Before the election, groups often ask people who they plan to vote for. This is called "polling." It helps show what people are thinking.

     PD      M5S      PdL/FI      SC      NCD/AP      LN      SEL/SI      FdI      UdC      MDP      CP      LeU      I      CP      NcI

This image shows how different parties were expected to do before the election. The lines on the graph show how popular each party was over time. For example, the yellow line shows the Five Star Movement growing in popularity before the vote. The red line shows the Democratic Party's support.

Images for kids

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  Matteo Renzi announcing his resignation after the 2016 constitutional referendum result

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  Renzi speaking at a convention

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  Berlusconi in Trento during the election campaign

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  Salvini speaking at a rally in Milan

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  Palazzo Montecitorio, where the Chamber of Deputies meets

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  An election package sent to an Italian voter in South America

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  Voting at a polling station in Rome

See Also

In Spanish: Elecciones generales de Italia de 2018 para niños