For the election of the President of the Republic, voting takes place on January 24 at 15 pm. The date and time were set by the Speaker of the Chamber Roberto Fico and will mark the beginning of the complex procedure that will lead to the election of Sergio Mattarella's successor. The latter will leave the Quirinale on 3 February.
ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, THE SITUATION
The puzzle of the succession to Sergio Mattarella is still to be resolved. Many names are at stake, starting with that of Prime Minister Mario Draghi who – despite the distancing of the parties – concretely remains the most titled name for the position. Follows Silvio Berlusconi, formally candidate of the Center, but with little or no chance of making it. Other names: Pier Ferdinando Casini, Giuliano Amato. And then the appeal of the writers and intellectuals to vote for a woman at Colle. But the puzzle is still to be put together.
On paper, in the current Parliament they are 1.008 or 1.009 the Electors who will vote together in joint session: 321 senators, 630 deputies and 58 regional delegates. There are 3 regional candidates for each Region, with the exception of Valle d'Aosta which has one, designated so that the representation of minorities is ensured. And here the first unknowns begin: the plenum is currently stuck at 1.007 members: there are 320 senators, but they must rise to 321 if the Palazzo Madama hall validates the takeover of the Democratic Party Fabio Porta in place of the lapsed Made Adriano Cario. On the other hand, there are 629 deputies currently in office because the mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri left his position vacant as required by law. By-elections are scheduled for Sunday 16 January. Once proclaimed, the new elect will join the plenum which will thus return to 630.
ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, THE ARRANGEMENTS
The next parliament – the one that will be voted on in the next elections – will be much more streamlined as a result of the constitutional reform already voted. The deputies will be 400, the senators will stop at 206. Overall there will be 345 fewer parliamentarians.
But now? The centre-right on paper it can count on 450 exponents: 196 are from the League (Senator Paolo Saviane has died and his seat remains vacant), 127 from Forza Italia, 58 from Fratelli d'Italia, 31 from Coraggio Italia-Cambiamo-Idea, 5 from Us with Italy, to which are added the 33 regional delegates.
Il center left (including the M5S) can count on 420 votes if Italy alive is excluded. Matteo Renzi's party has a cadre of 43 votes. The Democratic Party has 133 electors, the M5s has 233, Leu 18, Action-+Europe 5, Bruno Tabacci's Democratic Center has 6 deputies. To this block are added the 25 regional delegates, plus Gianclaudio Bressa, a member of the group for the Autonomies but elected with the Democratic Party.
The third block of votes is that of Mixed group of House and Senate. The number of deputies and senators who adhere to it has increased over the course of the legislature by welcoming the defectors of the various parties. Among the deputies, first of all, the former M5s of Alternativa must be counted. There is 19 electors for the Quirinale votes, then there are Action-+Europe-Radicali (5), Centro Democratico (6 deputies), Maie (3 deputies, 3 senators), FattoEco (3 deputies), Nci (5 deputies). Then in the Senate there is LeU (6) and many M5s exiles (15 ex M5s, 3 ex 5s now Italexit and 1 ex 5s now Potere al Popolo).
Finally, it should be considered that they will also participate in these elections for the President of the Republic 6 senators for life: Giorgio Napolitano, Mario Monti, Liliana Segre, Elena Cattaneo, Renzo Piano, Carlo Rubbia.
ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, QUORUM AND VOTING
For the election of the President of the Republic, the Constitution prescribes that a qualified majority equal to 2/3 of the members of the assembly must be reached for the first three votes. That is - based on current numbers - 671 if we take the number of 1007 electors as a basis. If it is not possible to elect the President of the Republic in three sessions, in the fourth session the quorum drops to half the votes plus one. That is 504 votes.
The electors are called twice, they show up in the booth (called catafalque and located under the table of the presidency of the Chamber) and place their ballot. The procedure is aimed at ensuring maximum secrecy of the vote. The counting of the ballots is read aloud by the Speaker of the Chamber.
