Deputy Prime Minister of Italy
The Deputy Prime Minister of Italy, officially Vice-President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic (Italian: Vicepresidente del Consiglio dei ministri della Repubblica Italiana), is a senior member of the Italian Cabinet. Moreover, it is often colloquially known as Vicepremier. The office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not a permanent position, existing only at the discretion of the Prime Minister, who may appoint to other offices to give seniority to a particular Cabinet minister. The office is currently held by Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani under Giorgia Meloni's premiership. 

The office is not mentioned in the Constitution. Their powers are defined by statutory provisions, most importantly article 8 of law no. 400 of 1998 (Italian: legge n. 400 del 1998).

The Deputy Prime Minister assumes the duties and powers of the Prime Minister when the latter becomes unable to discharge his or her duties. In case none was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, such a duty falls upon the oldest Minister, while if there are multiple Deputy Prime Ministers serving at the same time, it falls upon the oldest of them. 

The Deputy Prime Minister does not automatically succeed the Prime Minister in case the latter resigns, as conventionally, in the aftermath of a resignation, the outgoing Prime Minister remains in place to handle day-to-day business until Parliament picks a successor.

In practice, the designation of someone to the role of Deputy Prime Minister may also provide additional practical status within cabinet, enabling the exercise of de facto, if not de jure, power.

In a coalition government, as Enrico Letta Grand coalition government between the Democrats and The People of Freedom, the appointment of the secretary of the smaller party (in the 2014 case, Angelino Alfano, secretary of the PdL) as Deputy Prime Minister is done to give that person more authority within the cabinet to enforce the coalition's agreed-upon agenda.

List of deputy prime ministers

Kingdom of Italy

 Parties
1944–1946:

Coalitions

Italian Republic
 Parties
1946–1994:

1994–present:

Coalitions

Timeline

See also
 Prime Minister of Italy
 List of prime ministers of Italy
 Politics of Italy
 Lists of incumbents

References

 
Politics of Italy
1947 establishments in Italy