A hyper-politicized policy: coalition dynamics and media coverage of the Italian Reddito di Cittadinanza (2018–2023)

This article examines the evolving positions of Italian political parties, from 2018 to 2023, regarding the minimum income scheme known as the Reddito di Cittadinanza (RdC). It analyzes the conditions under which, if at all, the parties altered their stances on the policy issue. Introduced by the Conte I government (a coalition between the Movimento Cinque Stelle and the Lega) in 2019, the RdC emerged as a central issue of political contestation, reflecting the intersection of coalition dynamics, electoral strategies, and welfare discourse. Through the application of issue yield and framing theories, the analysis elucidates how parties strategically engaged with the RdC to navigate coalition-building and to shape political debate. Based on content analysis of Italian prime-time television newscasts, the study shows that coalition negotiations and alliance-building dynamics were pivotal in influencing shifts in party stances. Framing strategies were employed to present these positions–whether oppositional or accepting–through tailored narratives that aligned with evolving coalition contexts. While acknowledging the persistent significance of the electoral arena, the findings highlight the instrumental use of welfare discourse in Italian politics, where the RdC functioned as a ‘positioning issue’ within coalition strategies, emphasizing how welfare issues in fragmented political systems are leveraged for strategic political manoeuvring.