First step towards premiership: CdM ha approved unanimously the constitutional bill which provides for the reform in the appointment of the Prime Minister. The text, the result of the work of the owner of the Reforms Maria Elisabetta Casellati, passed without any changes and will now be able to move on to the complex parliamentary marathon. Complex because modifying the Charter is not that simple. After the approval of the text, each law of this type requires four passages between the House and the Senate and for it to be approved, Parliament must reach a qualified majority, i.e. two thirds of its members. And given the wall against wall on the proposal between the majority and the opposition (except Italia Viva), in all likelihood, there will then be a confirmatory referendum in spring 2025. Here the game will really open up given that the confirmatory referendum does not require a quorum.
THEobiettivo it is clear: to give stability to the government, to avoid reversals, palace games and technical governments which in recent years have thrown Italy into uncertainty. The Prime Minister said it Giorgia Meloni in a press conference on the sidelines of the CDM. But above all, give "citizens the right to decide who to govern themselves by". Therefore, if the reform sees the light, in a few years the citizens will be asked to personally choose the captain who will be at the helm of the country for five years. “This is the mother of all the reforms that can be done in Italy because if we take a step back and look at the last 20 years we have had 12 Prime Ministers,” the prime minister continued.
Constitutional reform: here's what could change
Direct election of the prime minister
I just am 5 articles, but destined to change our Constitution. As also explained by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Casellati in the press conference, the Prime Minister it will come elected by universal suffrage e direct for a period of five years, but not necessarily in a single shift: greater flexibility is left to the electoral law which will establish the methods and details of the rule establishing direct elections. This means that a run-off is not excluded (as for the Municipalities). An eventuality "that was not confirmed or excluded during the Council of Ministers" underlined Meloni. From a practical point of view, the vote for the election of the head of government and of the Chambers takes place through a single ballot paper. Different story for ministers, who would in any case be appointed by the head of state on the recommendation of the prime minister. A new electoral law is also planned with a majority premium. The coalition or list that receives the most votes (even if a threshold has not been set) will obtain 55% of the seats in Parliament.
The anti-tipping rule
In the text there is also the anti-tipping rule, which modifies article 94 of the Constitution, affecting the powers of the Collegio. In the event of a no-confidence vote or fall of the government, the President of the Republic can appoint another parliamentarian as prime minister, provided that he belongs to the same majority as the resigning member. If confidence is not granted for a second executive, the Quirinale will have to dissolve both Chambers. In fact, the Head of State will no longer have the possibility to dissolve just one of the two Chambers. The objective is to prevent an executive from being formed with a majority different from that which emerged from the polls. Simply put, with this rule, the Draghi government would never have been born.
Stop senators for life
But one of the most delicate points was addressed by the Prime Minister in a press conference: "The role of the President of the Republic will not be touched" and she confirmed that "it will be the figure of senators for life was abolished” (the current ones will remain in office until the end of their mandate) with the exception of the presidents emeritus of the Republic who will still have a seat of honor at Palazzo Madama. A priority or a poisonous revenge?
Constitutional reform: the reactions
Matteo Renzi has repeatedly said that he is in favor of constitutional reform with the direct election of the Prime Minister, while the other opposition forces - Pd, M5S, Avs, Più Europa and Action - are all against it.
“The Government has approved a reform in the Council of Ministers which we could call the Italierate. It is not a chancellorship (which we would have approved), it is not a Premiership, it is not Presidentialism or semi-presidentialism. It is our invention never before tested in the world. Parliament doesn't work, federalism doesn't work, public administration doesn't work. Meloni found the solution: take care of something else. Which represents the history of this government well,” wrote the leader of Carlo Calenda on X.
Updated Friday 3 November 2023 at 15pm
