The 2020 Pandemic Governance in Italy and Lombardy: Institutional Conflict in Health Emergency

This chapter looks at how the Covid-19 pandemic was dealt with and managed in Italy in 2020, with particular reference to Lombardy, the Region most affected. The measures adopted by the Italian Government led to the emergence of a number of critical issues, both in the relations between the Central Government and local authorities (especially Regions and Municipalities), and between the local authorities themselves. The lessons learned from this experience will prove useful in avoiding the recurrence of institutional deadlock in emergency situations when, instead, rapid and incisive action by the institutions in the interests of the community is needed.