We often hear that in Italy the president of the Republic it has an essentially representative role, but this is not really the case. Even if the citizens hear about the Colle only (or almost) on ceremonial occasions, in reality the Constitution assigns it to the Head of State quite a long list of powers and functions.
LAWS
Sure, the President of the Republic is guarantor of the Fundamental Charter e first state representative, but it doesn't just have formal tools to fulfill these roles. First, it's his job promulgate the laws passed by Parliament, over which he can exercise the so-called "suspension veto": if, for example, he believes that the text contains provisions of dubious constitutionality, the Head of State refers the measure back to the Chambers for further examination (this is what Ciampi did with the Gasparri law in 2003, one of the best-known cases). If the parliamentarians reapprove the law - even without changes - the president is forced to give the green light. However, he is never politically responsible for the promulgated acts, which for this reason are countersigned by the proposing ministers and, if the measure has the force of law, also by the prime minister.
Furthermore, the Head of State authorizes the presentation of government decrees to Parliament, and it happened that he intervened with an action of "moral suasion" to convince the executive to correct them.
ROOMS, ELECTIONS, REFERENDUM
The president then has the power to summon and, above all, of dissolve the chambers (at the end of the legislature or when they are unable to express a government majority). The second prerogative, however, cannot be exercised during the "blank semester", i.e. in the last six months of the Colle mandate (unless these coincide, in whole or in part, with the last semester of the legislature). The constituents set this limit to prevent the president, in the hope of being re-elected, from trying to obtain a more favorable Parliament through early general elections.
In fact, the corollary of the power to dissolve the Chambers is that of call elections, which in turn associates with that of hold referendums.
APPOINTMENTS
After that, there are the appointing powers.
The Head of State entrusts the task of forming the government to the Prime Minister in pectore and then appoints the entire executive. It is also his job to name five of the 15 members that make up the Constitutional Court.
In addition, the president can appoint the office of Senator for life to citizens who have "illustrated the country for outstanding merits in the social, scientific, artistic and literary fields", reads in article 59 of the Constitution. But even in this case there is a limit: the senators in office for life cannot be more than five (excluding from the count the former presidents of the Republic, who, once their mandate has ended, assume the same office). Sergio Mattarella nominated only one senator for life, Liliana Segre, while Giorgio Napolitano had reached the maximum of five: Mario Monti, Renzo Piano, Carlo Rubbia, Elena Cattaneo and Claudio Abbado.
OTHER ROLES AND POWERS
The Head of State then the command of the Armed Forces, declares the state of war (which must first be approved by the Chambers) and chairs the Supreme Council of Defense, cosím come il Superior Council of the Judiciary, the self-governing body of magistrates.
Finally, the prerogatives of the president also include other powers: to ratify i international treaties (in most cases with the authorization of the Parliament); dissolve the regional councils and remove the presidents of the juntas; confer honors; grant pardon and commute sentences of the definitively convicted.
