For now, the Constitutional Affairs Commission of the Senate has only approved a basic text of electoral reform which will have to pass first through the classroom and then in the Chamber: a long, uncertain and bumpy journey, therefore. Yet it is the last attempt to avoid voting with Porcellum again next time. Furthermore, one gets the impression that, despite yesterday the line-up oppositions preceding the Monti government and others were re-proposed (Pdl-Lega with the addition of Udc and Fli voted in favor of the text, Pd and Idv against), there is a political agreement which, in the end, could bring about the new rules, perhaps with some significant corrections.
Which, it should be said right away, are not exciting. First of all because Porcellum would survive itself: a third of those elected will come from blocked lists. And then the new proportional system reintroduces preferences: one that can become two, provided they are gender-based (one for a man, the other for a woman, under penalty of cancellation). Now it's not that the system of preferences can be considered absolute evil, but certainly this choice seems short-sighted, in the light of the most recent scandals in the regions.
We mention just three: the Pdl councilor of Lombardy Domenico Zambetti is in jail accused of having bought 4 preferences from the 'Ndrangheta for 200 euros; the leader of the PDL in Lazio Franco Fiorito (aka Batman) is a true record holder of the matter and the same can be said for the leader in the same region Maruccio. As is known, these two have also been in captivity in their homeland prisons for a few days. In short, if this is the culmination of the reform, it could be above all the grillini, anti-politics and non-voting who will benefit from it. The other novelty foreseen by the basic text is a majority premium for the winning coalition of 12,5%. A substantial figure, but which could also not guarantee governance in the two Chambers.
Naturally, it is by no means certain that the Chambers will approve that basic text as it came out of the commission. The Democratic Party is convinced that it still has the possibility of reintroducing constituencies instead of preferential voting. And for this he counts on the widespread stomach aches, which, especially in the Chamber, could condition the choices of numerous parliamentarians (from Forza Italia) for whom the preferential vote would favor the former ANs, better organized in the area. Certainly Bersani's party does not want to put its face on the restoration of preferences, but at the same time it does not necessarily face the barricades if the new old majority (PDL, UDC and Lega) were to remain so.
In short, the arrival point is close, but the solution is still uncertain and above all risks being botched. After all, waiting for the last days of the Legislature to put his hand on electoral rules means that the interests of the voters are not in the foreground, but those of the parties that contribute to obtaining their vote. And therefore the haggling to reach compromises, not always honourable, prevails. Let's hope that in the end, if not for the best, at least for the least worst.
