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| 1981, June 28 |
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| The Christian Democrats lost control of the office of prime minister for the first time since 1945, as Giovanni Spadolini, a Republican, formed a new government. | 1 |
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| 1982, Sept |
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| In a campaign to eradicate the Mafia, Parliament passed an anti-Mafia law, specifying for the first time that association with the Mafia was a criminal offense. The campaign, which generated large popular demonstrations against the Mafia, lasted into 1988, when 342 people were convicted of illegal activities. | 2 |
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| 1983, Aug |
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| Bettino Craxi, leader of the PSI, became prime minister. He would hold the office longer than anyone since De Gasperi. | 3 |
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| 1985, Oct |
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| The Italian government reasserted its sovereignty in a dispute with the United States over Italian-held terrorists responsible for the seizure of the ocean liner Achille Lauro and the murder of an American citizen. | 4 |
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| 1990, Feb |
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| Parliament passed tougher immigration laws, to encourage illegal immigrants to register with the police and to ensure control of future immigration from outside the EC. The law brought Italy into line with the majority of EC member states. | 5 |
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| 1991, Oct |
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| The government approved the formation of a new anti-Mafia investigation department that would coordinate the efforts of the police, the military police, and the customs police. | 6 |
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| Nov. 21 |
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| The Chamber of Deputies approved a bill on the optional use of minority languages in primary schools, government offices, and broadcasting. | 7 |
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