1994 Italian General Election (Roses of Reforms)

The 1994 Italian general election was a snap election held on two consecutive days, 27 and 28 March 1994 to renew 581 members of the Chamber of Deputies. It was the first election of the so-called "Second Republic", a term created by journalists to indicate the renewed political sphere and changes inside the system. It has seen the participation of tycoon Silvio Berlusconi as the frontrunner of the election, leading the Christian Democracy to a renewed victory, although with a reduced majority.

Background
On December 1993, the now President of the Republic Andreotti ended his term as DC secretary (expiral) and this triggered a new leadership election. It was widely expected that Mino Martinazzoli would win the challenge, therefore reviving the center-left factions of the Christian Democracy. However, Silvio Berlusconi entered the challenge on the second ballot, winning the votes of Andreotti, as he was now seen as the de-facto head of the Primavera faction. A few weeks later, Martinazzoli and other center-left DC exponents left the party to create a new list named the Pact for Italy, led by Mario Segni, son of former President Antonio Segni. However, he ruled out any accords with the Democratic Party of the Left.

Berlusconi proposed several reforms, including the rise of pensions, low taxes and increased liberalizations, deepening the change in the economic policy of the party. Despite Segni departure, the DC managed to mantain it's stability increasing the share of votes to unprecedented levels.