A General and Constitutional Outline of Italy’s Eff orts against COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, in Italy no aspect of individual and social life remained untouched, nor did the legal system. A special legislative model was enacted urgently, and this aroused several constitutional questions. Nevertheless, the essay concludes that the Italian Constitution was generally able to accommodate the necessary reactions, without forsaking its principles: emergency measures remained within the margins of intrinsic constitutional flexibility, considering the exceptional and transient situation which justifies – and limit – their scope. Some critical points are highlighted: above all, the marginalization Parliament and some weaknesses in official communications between science, government and public opinion. But these criticalities predate the pandemic and their correction does not require the introduction of new constitutional clauses on states of emergency.