ROME But he kept moving. Although slowly and with difficulty. After passing the autumn regional elections, the electoral law resolutely appeared again, becoming the protagonist in the conciliation between the DPR and the Senate, confusing the party secretariat. There are also those who reject meetings between government and opposition officials, namely between Giorgia Meloni and Elly Schlein or something like that. But no one denies that the great market started in the corridors of Roman palaces, even if to officially sit down at the table to write the new rules of the game, we have to wait for the green light from the budget law. Moreover, it has been mentioned in Fdi circles that the League could soon raise its stakes, encouraged by the election results achieved in Veneto. «It is better not to open two fronts at the same time – they observe from della Scrofa – because Salvini is already playing his game of maneuvering, between fiscal peace, short-term rentals and Rai license fees». The confrontation between the leaders, which will hopefully be a definitive confrontation, will take place between today and tomorrow, and then the decision will return to Parliament. Opening another front immediately would be excessive, even if the electoral law construction has been simmering for some time. Especially since there is a deadline for Meloni and his allies to meet: a decision from the European Court of Human Rights regarding Mario Staderini’s appeal is due in December.
RULES OF THE YEAR
The former secretary of the Italian Radicals asked Strasbourg to support the so-called “principle of the year”, namely the assumption that the rules of the electoral game should not be changed in the 365 days before the election. And if, as expected, a vote takes place in March 2027, accelerating the expiration of the legislature by six months, Parliament has only a few months left to retire Rosatellum. What’s more if the ECHR has to drag on, delivering its opinion while the election construction site is still open but not having time to allow experts to take action. Results? We will be back to square one, in the name of the hated Rosatellum.
Then there was another belief that emerged between the government and the opposition, which was confirmed by the top brass via della Scrofa. President Sergio Mattarella will not support changes in the Cesarini region, with polls close. Beliefs dictated by the desire to maintain the best possible representation. Avoiding the majority, whatever it may be, choosing what is best for oneself.
But changing a voting system is a difficult task and history teaches us that. In the report of the Senate hearing on the “law of fraud”, a reform sought by Alcide De Gasperi in ’53 and approved with difficulty amidst riots in the courtroom and in the streets, we read: “The Honorable Ruini was wounded in the head by a tablet thrown at him by the far left sector”. So a story that starts with a bang. Or rather, with blood. And realizing reforms in such a short time is an additional obstacle, even if FDI does not preclude the possibility of carrying out reforms with a majority if the opposition takes a stand. «Be careful – says Riccardo Magi of Più Europa, who is an expert on electoral law – in Parliament, votes on electoral reform are secret, and friendly relations are imminent. This applies to everyone, including “Meloncellum”.
Also because the center-right is driven by different desires. The model he saw was a regional model, pure proportional law with a threshold of 3%. However, with a supermajority bonus that would guarantee a coalition that manages to win at least 40% of the vote gets 55% of the seats, that number would increase to 60 if one of the two fronts managed to win more than 45% of the electorate. Stay away from single-member constituencies, even if to guarantee small constituencies – just think of Maurizio Lupi, the fourth member of the government – an alternative solution must be implemented: there are parties thinking of a list of leaders to guarantee the “right to the gallery”. Meanwhile, the League can be compensated in the Senate with national prizes regionally, that is, adjusted to the population. However, FdI also aims to ensure that the prime ministerial candidate from the coalition is named on the ballot paper. A significant boost was due to Scrofa, who bet everything on the “Giorgia factor”. However this sees opposite and opposing winds blowing in Fi and Lega. And this risks causing a split in the progressive camp, marked by the eternal dispute between Schlein and Conte. We can only hope that this does not end like during De Gasperi’s time.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
