"Le basi del sostegno politico del presidente del Consiglio"

(co-authored with Cristina Barbieri) This chapter analyzes the foundations of the Italian prime ministers’ political support (party-parliamentary; electoral; presidential). In particular, it investigates the relationship between these foundations, the background, and the governing capacity of the heads of government. It answers four main questions: what type of political support Italian prime ministers enjoy? How do prime ministers’ background vary depending on the support’s foundations? When does political support endow prime ministers with governing capacity? How much support do prime ministers have? The analysis covers a period of more than 70 years (1948-2021) and 65 cabinets, whose heads are classified as prime ministers with little, medium, and large support, based on an original additive index of political support.