The 2006 Italian general elections: issues, dimensions and policy positions of political parties

In this paper we attempt to answer the following questions: what are the dimensions that best describe the policy space in Italy in 2006? What are the policy positions of political parties on those dimensions? To answer these questions, we first provide a qualitative account of the policy issues most emphasized by the political parties in the 2006 electoral campaign. Then we examine the most salient dimensions of the policy space in the Italian context. Our description relies on quantitative estimates from expert survey data. Finally, we provide estimates of party policy positions on the left-right dimension based on computer content analysis of party manifestos. Expert survey data point out the salience of the economic policy dimension and capture a relevant change in the importance of the social dimension. Content analysis of party manifestos highlights the policy positions of two parties, UdEUR (Unione Democratici per l'EURopa) and PRC (Partito della Rifondazione Comunista), on the left-right dimension. The first one is located to the right with respect to the other members of the left-wing coalition, while the second is located very far on the left with respect to any other party. Combined with the fact that both parties are pivotal actors within the left-wing coalition (PRC both in the Chamber and the Senate and UdEUR in the Senate), such policy differences raise questions about the enforcement of coalition agreements by those parties, once in government.