The number of elected senators was 315. At the start of the Legislature the number of life senators was seven (Francesco Cossiga and Oscar Luigi Scalfaro as former Presidents, as well as nominated life senators Giulio Andreotti, Rita Levi-Montalcini, Emilio Colombo, Giorgio Napolitano, and Sergio Pininfarina). During the legislature Giorgio Napolitano was elected President, thus leaving his seat as life senator. Carlo Azeglio Ciampi became life senator on 15 May 2006 as the former President.
