“We have to decide if we are politics or the sports bar. We have to set common boundaries, first of all with the main opposition party, Forza Italia. Let's hope also with the agreement of the Government. In the second half of January we plan to present our shared proposal to amend the Constitution: the objective agreement reached with Fi is an extraordinary step, because it allows us to arrive at least in the first reading in the Senate by 25 May”. This was stated by the secretary of the Democratic Party, Matteo Renzi, speaking today at the direction of the Pd, that he will have to vote on the package of measures drawn up after talks with Silvio Berlusconi.
SENATE ABOLITION
“We propose a hypothesis of change in the country on three bases – he added -. First: the overthrow of the Senate (with the aim not only of reducing public spending, but of going beyond bicameralism, which is anything but perfect), with the elimination of the vote of confidence and the direct election of members of Palazzo Madama (and the effect of reducing the number of MPs from 905 to 603). We tell Italians that with the next elections there will no longer be voting in the Senate”.
REFORM TITLE V CONSTITUTION
“Second point: reform of the package under Title V of the Constitution – continued Renzi – which envisages bringing some powers back to the State: for example, I believe it is absurd that energy is managed at the level of the individual Regions. Other themes are those of large networks and foreign tourism. We have to admit we were wrong. The judgment of title V does not mean an acquittal of the centralist bureaucracy, because the Regions have an important role, even if their authority has been undermined in recent years. We also recall the Delrio reform proposal to eliminate the election of the presidents of the provinces. This package of proposals already brings savings of one billion in direct policy costs”.
ELECTION REFORM
“Third point: the electoral reform – explained the democratic secretary -. We do not intend to go back to the first Republic. Call it "Italicum", call it what you like: we propose the distribution of seats with a national distribution (and not by constituency) knowing that with the main opposing party we had another idea. I liked the Spanish system (that is, the one that favors two large poles), but we were asked to avoid a rift with the majority that supports the Government. On the other hand, let's say no to the blackmailing power of small parties. Prodi fell in 2008 because we called ourselves the Union, but we were everything but a union”.
The Renzi-Berlusconi agreement proposes “assigning a majority bonus that leads to at least 53%, at most 55%, and which can be assigned if at least 35% of the votes are obtained – explained the mayor of Florence -. The premium may therefore be a maximum of 18%. We therefore want to introduce a runoff, a double round, not between two prime minister candidates, but between two coalitions, which - without the possibility of joining each other - replay the challenge to reach 53%. There are also thresholds (5% for those who join together, 8% for those who don't join together, 12% for coalitions), to which we feel bound: if modified, everything is ruined, including the first two points . The package can be taken as it is, or skip the whole deal”.
“As for the lists, we have districts, multi-member constituencies: the political agreement reached does not provide for preference. Anyone who thinks of using this argument instrumentally today can do so, but as secretary of the Democratic Party I make two commitments: the primaries and the absolute constraint of gender representation ".
THE GRILLO ATTACK
“I would like to ask my fellow showman, Beppe Grillo: how long will you continue to abuse the patience of your senators? How long are you going to keep closing the door to those grades? We offer a clean, transparent, open deal."
BERLUSCONI AT THE NAZARENO
“Many of those who have reproached me for having brought Berlusconi to the Nazarene in the past have done everything to bring him to Palazzo Chigi. Anyone who wants to make controversy can do it, but it is instrumental. I express my gratitude to Silvio Berlusconi for agreeing to come to the headquarters of the Democratic Party. The issue of Berlusconi's political legitimacy does not concern me: his legitimacy derives from the consent expressed to him by the citizens. To think that someone may have resurrected Berlusconi clashes with reality: Berlusconi is recognized as a leader in all cities, regions and provinces. Having a political judgment on the last 20 years is legitimate, but not recognizing that the rules are written with others corresponds to a criterion that is absolutely unfair in my opinion".
