Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
| Order of Merit of the Italian Republic | |
|---|---|
Awarded by  Italy | |
| Type | Order of knighthood |
| Eligibility | Civilian and military divisions |
| Awarded for | Meritorious service or achievement |
| Status | Extant |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 3 March 1951 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (lower) | Military Order of Italy |
The badge, modified in 2001, bears the inscription Al Merito della Repubblica encircling the national coat of arms on the obverse and the Latin Patriæ Unitati (for the union of the country) and Civium Libertati (for the liberty of the citizens) encircling the head of Italia Turrita on the reverse.[1] The six degrees with corresponding ribbons are as follows (with numbers to 2 June 2020):
| Ribbon (1951–2001) | Ribbon (since 2001) | Class (English) | Full title in Italian | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | Grand Cross with Collar | Gran Croce si Collare Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana | 199 |
 |  | 1st Class / Grand Cross | Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana | 9,178 |
 |  | 2nd Class / Grand Officer | Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana | 24,830 |
 |  | 3rd Class / Commander | Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana | 48,184 |
 |  | 4th Class / Officer | Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana | 33,442 |
 |  | 5th Class / Member | Membro Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana | 146,390 |
The order is bestowed by decree of the President of the Italian Republic, as head of the orders of knighthood, on the recommendation of the President of the Council of Ministers. Except in exceptional circumstances, no one can be awarded for the first time a rank higher than Knight. The minimum age requirement is normally 35.
The Knight Grand Cross with Collar is awarded only to heads of state.
References
[change | change source]- ↑ By Decree of the President of the Republic No. 173 of 30 March 2001