The Senate Hall yesterday gave the go-ahead to article 21 of the constitutional reform, the one concerning the election of the President of the Republic, paving the way for the final goal of approving Palazzo Madama (then the text will have to return to the Room). There were 161 votes in favour, 3 against, 5 abstentions. The League left the room, while the grillini remained, but did not participate in the vote and showed their electoral cards in protest. There were 227 present at the end of the calculation, but only 169 voting. Furthermore, the AP senators Gaetano Quagliariello and Andrea Augello did not participate in the vote, contrary to the decision taken by the allies not to change the quorum. Instead, the two senators of Italia dei valori voted in favour.
The Senate did not accept any changes to article 21. The version issued by the Chamber therefore remains in force, introducing two new quorums: “The election of the President of the Republic takes place by secret ballot with a two-thirds majority of the assembly. From the fourth ballot, the majority of three fifths of the assembly is sufficient. From the seventh ballot, a majority of three fifths of the voters is sufficient".
Yesterday Forza Italia voted alongside the dem majority on an amendment to article 17 (which concerns the declaration of a state of war), provoking the indignation of the other opposition parties and wrecking the common project to send a letter-appeal together to the president Sergio Mattarella.
The M5s has decided to ask the Head of State for a meeting. “Today Forza Italia supported the majority – underlined the M5s group leader in the Senate, Gianluca Castaldi – voting together with the Pd against an amendment to article 17, resurrecting the Pact of the Nazarene ter version in one fell swoop and adding to the crutch of the Verdi supporters who are voting for this reform together with the government. The truth is that everyone is good at making announcements, but then in the Chamber at the time of the vote, the fear of sending this government home wins, because that would mean losing one's seat".
"Already twenty days ago the M5s wrote a letter to the head of state - the grillino group leader also recalled - expressing concern and indignation at what is happening in this Chamber, the President of the Republic knows very well that the majority is voting for itself the changes to the Constitutional Charter, with votes narrower every day and in a disgusting climate of complaints about the sale of parliamentarians, like the one made just a few days ago by Gasparri himself".
The response of Paolo Romani, Forza Italia group leader, was ready, explaining that the vote on the amendment was made for technical reasons and that Fi will go ahead, even alone, with the plan to send an appeal to Mattarella.
