Editing Silvio Berlusconi (section)

=== Attempt to reform the Italian constitution ===
A key point in the Berlusconi government's programme was a planned reform of the [[Italian constitution]], which Berlusconi considered to be inspired by the [[Soviet Union]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/politica/berluparla/torino/torino.html|title=Berlusconi: "La Costituzione è di ispirazione sovietica"|language=it|work=[[la Repubblica]]|date=12 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026002229/http://www.repubblica.it/online/politica/berluparla/torino/torino.html |archive-date=26 October 2013}}</ref> an issue on which the coalition parties themselves initially had significantly different opinions. [[Lega Nord]] insisted on a federalist reform ([[devolution]] of more power to the regions) as a condition for remaining in the coalition.<ref>{{cite news |title=Northern League calls for devolution of Rome's power |first=Peter |last=Popham |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=20 September 2003 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent/126405517/ |page=16 |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620060431/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent/126405517/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[National Alliance (Italy)|National Alliance]] party pushed for a strong premiership (more powers to the prime minister).<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m3CBAgAAQBAJ |page=169 |title=Political Institutions in Europe |last=Josep Colomer |publisher=Routledge |year=2003 |isbn=1134497318 |access-date=15 June 2023 |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620060430/https://books.google.com/books?id=m3CBAgAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Difficulties in negotiating an agreement caused some internal unrest in the Berlusconi government in 2003, but they were mostly overcome and the law including devolution of powers to the regions, Federal Senate, and strong premiership, was passed by the Senate in April 2004; it was slightly modified by the Chamber of Deputies in October 2004, and again in October 2005, and finally approved by the Senate on 16 November 2005, with a narrow majority. Approval in a referendum is necessary to amend the Italian constitution without a qualified two-thirds parliamentary majority. The referendum was held on 25–26 June 2006 and resulted in the rejection of the constitutional reform, with 61.3% of voters casting [[ballot]]s against it.<ref>{{cite news |title=Italy votes in reform referendum |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5110326.stm |access-date=13 June 2023 |publisher=BBC |date=25 June 2006 |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620060431/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5110326.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Nohlen |first1=Dieter |author-link1=Dieter Nohlen |title=Elections in Europe: A data handbook |last2=Stöver |first2=Philip |publisher=Nomos |year=2010 |isbn=978-3-8329-5609-7 |page=1049}}</ref>