Type Unicameral Last election February 24, 2013 | Seats 80 | |
 | ||
President Raffaele Cattaneo, PdL
Since March 28, 2013 Political groups Government (49)
LN (27)
PdL (19)
FdI (2)
PP (1)
Opposition (31)
PD (17)
M5S (9)
Ambrosoli list (5) | ||
The Regional Council of Lombardy (Consiglio Regionale della Lombardia) is the legislative assembly of Lombardy.
It was first elected in 1970, when the ordinary regions were instituted, on the basis of the Constitution of Italy of 1948.
Composition
The political system of the Regions of Italy was changed in 1995, when a semi-presidential system was introduced. If until that year the Council was elected under a pure proportional system and the President of Lombardy was chosen and dismissed by the Council, since 1995 the President and the Council are jointly elected by the people.
The Regional Council of Lombardy is composed of 80 members. 64 councillors are elected in provincial constituencies by proportional representation using the largest remainder method with a Droop quota and open lists, while 16 councillors (elected in bloc) come from a "regional list", including the President-elect. One seat is reserved for the candidate who comes second. If a coalition wins more than 40 seats with PR, as happened during the 2000 election, only 8 candidates from the regional list will be chosen and the number of those elected in provincial constituencies will be 72. If the winning coalition receives less than 50% of votes, as happened during the 1995 election, special seats are added to the Council to ensure a large majority for the President's coalition.
The Council is elected for a five-year term, but, if the President suffers a vote of no confidence, resigns or dies, under the simul stabunt, simul cadent clause introduced in 1999 (literally they will stand together or they will fall together), also the Council is dissolved and a snap election is called.
The Council chooses its speaker, called President of the Council (Presidente del Consiglio).
Source: Region Lombardy