Italian Prime Minister Arnaldo Forlani and his coalition cabinet resign following a scandal over membership of the pseudo-masonic lodge P2 (Propaganda Due).
Arnaldo Forlani, (Italian pronunciation: [arnaldo forlani]; born 8 December 1925) is an Italian politician and statesman who served as the 43rd prime minister of Italy from 18 October 1980 to 28 June 1981. He also held the office of deputy prime minister, minister of Foreign Affairs and minister of Defence.A member of the right-wing faction of the Christian Democracy party, Forlani was one of the most prominent Italian politicians from the 1970s to early 1990s. At 96 years old, he is both the oldest living and the longest-lived prime minister of Italy.
The prime minister of Italy, officially the president of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic (Italian: Presidente del Consiglio dei ministri della Repubblica Italiana), commonly referred to in Italy as Presidente del Consiglio or informally as Premier, is the head of government of the Italian Republic. The office of prime minister is established by Articles 92 through 96 of the Constitution of Italy. The prime minister is appointed by the president of the Republic and must have the confidence of the Italian Parliament to stay in office.
Prior to the establishment of the Italian Republic, the position was called President of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Italy (Presidente del Consiglio dei ministri del Regno d'Italia). From 1925 to 1943 during the Fascist regime, the position was transformed into the dictatorial position of Head of the Government, Prime Minister Secretary of State (Capo del Governo, Primo Ministro Segretario di Stato) held by Benito Mussolini, Duce of Fascism, who officially governed on the behalf of the King of Italy. King Victor Emmanuel III removed Mussolini from office in 1943 and the position was restored with Marshal Pietro Badoglio becoming Prime Minister in 1943. Alcide De Gasperi became the first prime minister of the Italian Republic in 1946.
The prime minister is the president of the Council of Ministers which holds executive power and the position is similar to those in most other parliamentary systems. The formal Italian order of precedence lists the office as being, ceremonially, the fourth-highest Italian state office.
Mario Draghi, former President of the European Central Bank, was appointed Prime Minister by President Sergio Mattarella on 13 February 2021 following the resignation of Giuseppe Conte.