Italy (Italian Republic)
Italy has a total area of 301.336 sq km and a population of 60.3 million, of which 94.2% are Italians and 5.8% (3.8 million) are foreigners. Catholicism is the most wide-spread religion in the republic. Other religions practiced there include Islam, Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism.
Italy's capital, Rome, has a population of 2.6 million. The major Italian cities are Milan (1.3 million), Naples (995,000), Turin (902,000), Palermo (675,000), Genoa (605,000) and Florence (368,000).
The country is divided into 20 regions, which are further subdivided into 110 provinces.
Italy has been a parliamentary republic since 1946. The head of state is the president, who is elected for seven years at a joint meeting of the two houses of parliament. Under the Constitution, the president schedules elections for the parliament, dissolves the parliament houses, appoints state officials and serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Giorgio Napolitano is the current President of the Italian Republic (since May 15, 2006).
The Council of Ministers serves as the government. It currently consists of 13 ministers, 10 ministers without portfolio, as well as deputy ministers, and is chaired by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (this is the fourth time Berlusconi has held this position).
Legislative power is vested in the Parliament of Italy, which is elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term and consists of two houses: the Senate of the Republic (315 elected senators) and the Chamber of Deputies (630 deputies).
Judicial power is vested in the Constitutional Court of Italy, which is composed of 15 judges: one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected by the parliament and one-third elected by ordinary and administrative supreme courts, all for a nine-year term.
In the 5th to 3rd centuries B.C., Italy was the main part of the Roman Empire. By the end of the Middle Ages, Italy was fragmented, first under the rule of the Spanish crown and then, in the 19th century, under the Austrian crown and the French Republic. By the late 1860s, Italy was unified under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which included Rome in 1870. Italy became a nation-state in 1870.
During World War II, Italy was allied with Germany. It became a parliamentary republic in 1946 following a referendum.
Italy pursues a multilateral approach in its foreign policy. Emphasis is placed on improving relations in the European Union: Rome is one of the most prominent advocates of deepening the integration of the European Union yet further and supports the gradual development of a coherent common foreign policy, as well as a uniform policy on security issues and the energy sector. It pays special attention to the Balkans and the Mediterranean region. As part of its mission within the European Union, Italy seeks to promote good-neighbourly relations and a mutually beneficial dialogue with the North African and Middle Eastern countries, provides assistance in the resolution of regional conflicts and ensures the safety of energy supply to European countries.
Italy is one of the leading UN member-states. In 2007-2008, it was a non-permanent member of the Security Council. Italy takes part in peace-making operations, with a total of over 7,000 Italian troops in Kosovo, Lebanon and Afghanistan.
In 2009, as a result of the global financial and economic crisis, Italy's GDP fell by 4.6% (in 2008 it fell by 1.0%). Industrial production decreased by 17.5% (4.3% in 2008). In 2009, the country's state budget deficit was 5.3% of its GDP value, up from a deficit of 2.7% in 2008. The public debt topped 115% of GDP and gross fixed capital formation shrank by 11.7%.
With exports of goods and services decreasing by 22.1% and imports down 23.5% compared to the same period in 2008, the balance of trade remained negative over 11 months of 2009. Inflation was 0.8% in 2009 (3.3% in 2008). The rate of unemployment rose to 8.5% in 2009 against 7.1% in 2008.
The main Italian dailies are Corriere della Sera (the largest and most influential daily in Italy), Repubblica (the most read daily) and Sole 24 Ore (the most authoritative economic and financial newspaper in Italy). ANSA (Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata) is the leading Italian information agency, listed among the world's five largest information agencies. Two major multimedia companies are the leaders on Italy's electronic media market: RAI (the state TV and radio broadcaster Radiotelevisione Italiana ) and Mediaset (owned by Silvio Berlusconi), each operating three national TV channels.
The country's official language is Italian.
The national flag of Italy is a tricolour consisting of three equally-sized vertical stripes of green, white and red.
The Italian official coat of arms was approved on May 5, 1948.
The country's national holiday is the Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica), which is celebrated on June 2.
The Italian official currency is the Euro (since January 1, 2002).
