Reforms have been approved and in October a referendum will decide the destiny of these choices as well as the future of the Country, where oppositions have no reason to be
by Emanuele Bonini
According to the Italian minister for Constitutional Reforms, Maria Elena Boschi, finally Italy got a new Constitution «in line with modern times», after an approval of new State organization which marked «an historical day». Nothing to say about: that's all true. Italy radically changed its Constitutional chart, adopted for the first time in 1948 after nearly three years of work. Therefore there is no doubt that an historical day was marked, although doubts rise from the same historical step. Modern times are showing a lack of democracy in Europe, with nationalism and authoritarian leaders emerging everywhere and institutional organizations assuming the form of States serving only one man or a little class of citizens. Less independence of Parliament, more attributions for the government chief: something already happening in certain countries such as Hungary and Poland, and similar changes could arrive in Italy after the latest reforms.
The reform. First of all it has to be said the news rules are not in force yet. The national Parliament completed the legislative process by approving the proposal of reform, and a referendum will be needed (it will be hold in October) to confirm the decision taken by MEPs. Thus last word will be up to the Italians, and the referendum will be crucial to see what Italy can became. According to new proposals, the Parliament will be composed by two branches with different power. Only the house of representatives will be allowed to express confidence votes on the government, and only the House of representatives will be entitle to vote bills. In fact the new Senate as it is foreseen by the new proposal, will only express opinions on legislative proposals. That means the House of representative can decide to take into account the decision of the other Parliamentary branch or just ignore it and pass the bill as it was submitted to the Senate. The latter won't have binding powers, but consultative functions as already mentioned. Only in case of bills on Regions and local authorities the new Senate will be obliged to vote, but there will be a maximum 15 days period time to vote, otherwise the legislative proposal will enter automatically into force. The Senate is going to lose the right to vote on war decision, as well as amnesty and pardon.
Positive changes. The new Senate will be composed by 100 members, 215 less than the actual Senate. This means less public expenditure and economic savings. The Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi estimated savings for around 1.000 billion Euros per year, but precise evaluations are still ongoing. Politically speaking, the legislative process is supposed to be speeded up given the lighter Senate.
Controversial elements. With a Senate with no binding decisions and less competence, everything will happen in the House of the Representatives. Here, according to the current electoral law, a majority bonus is granted to the party receiving the plurality of the votes beyond a 40% threshold. In this case it is attributed a minimum of 340 seats (54%). If no party has been able to pass the 40% threshold, a second round takes place two weeks after the first one: this time electors receive a ballot where they are allowed to choose between the two parties that received most votes in the first round. The party winning the second round is attributed 340 seats. So, in any case a leading party will rule with no opposition. With the control of the House of the Representatives and no stops from the Senate, the main party will can decide easily whatever is on the table. If some people believes this is positive because decisions can be taken, ruling with no operation opposition can lead to authoritarianism. The «checks and balances» system is basically over.
Participation. After the second world war in Italy all parties worked together to the new Constitution, including the post-Fascist parties. Of course this happened for historical reasons (there was a country and a national unity to be rebuilt), but that common and shared process was based on the awareness of a work for all. All means everybody, no-one excluded. The new Italy had to be the synthesis of all the different parts of the society. It took three years, but Italy drafted and adopted the Constitutional chart. Today only the majority coalition parties have worked on the Constitution. All opposition parties didn't participate to the legislative activity. The spirit of inclusion behind the original Constitution has been betrayed. A Constitution is for all, not for few parts. The way chosen to introduce the Constitutional changes doesn't respect the idea of democracy. In democracy there are decision to be taken all together, and decision on Constitution is one of them. It has been shown a lack of confrontation will. Without spirit of confrontation can't be dialogue, without dialogue can't be democracy. With an history of fascism as Italy has, what is going on is not a good new at all.
According to the Italian minister for Constitutional Reforms, Maria Elena Boschi, finally Italy got a new Constitution «in line with modern times», after an approval of new State organization which marked «an historical day». Nothing to say about: that's all true. Italy radically changed its Constitutional chart, adopted for the first time in 1948 after nearly three years of work. Therefore there is no doubt that an historical day was marked, although doubts rise from the same historical step. Modern times are showing a lack of democracy in Europe, with nationalism and authoritarian leaders emerging everywhere and institutional organizations assuming the form of States serving only one man or a little class of citizens. Less independence of Parliament, more attributions for the government chief: something already happening in certain countries such as Hungary and Poland, and similar changes could arrive in Italy after the latest reforms.
The reform. First of all it has to be said the news rules are not in force yet. The national Parliament completed the legislative process by approving the proposal of reform, and a referendum will be needed (it will be hold in October) to confirm the decision taken by MEPs. Thus last word will be up to the Italians, and the referendum will be crucial to see what Italy can became. According to new proposals, the Parliament will be composed by two branches with different power. Only the house of representatives will be allowed to express confidence votes on the government, and only the House of representatives will be entitle to vote bills. In fact the new Senate as it is foreseen by the new proposal, will only express opinions on legislative proposals. That means the House of representative can decide to take into account the decision of the other Parliamentary branch or just ignore it and pass the bill as it was submitted to the Senate. The latter won't have binding powers, but consultative functions as already mentioned. Only in case of bills on Regions and local authorities the new Senate will be obliged to vote, but there will be a maximum 15 days period time to vote, otherwise the legislative proposal will enter automatically into force. The Senate is going to lose the right to vote on war decision, as well as amnesty and pardon.
Positive changes. The new Senate will be composed by 100 members, 215 less than the actual Senate. This means less public expenditure and economic savings. The Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi estimated savings for around 1.000 billion Euros per year, but precise evaluations are still ongoing. Politically speaking, the legislative process is supposed to be speeded up given the lighter Senate.
Controversial elements. With a Senate with no binding decisions and less competence, everything will happen in the House of the Representatives. Here, according to the current electoral law, a majority bonus is granted to the party receiving the plurality of the votes beyond a 40% threshold. In this case it is attributed a minimum of 340 seats (54%). If no party has been able to pass the 40% threshold, a second round takes place two weeks after the first one: this time electors receive a ballot where they are allowed to choose between the two parties that received most votes in the first round. The party winning the second round is attributed 340 seats. So, in any case a leading party will rule with no opposition. With the control of the House of the Representatives and no stops from the Senate, the main party will can decide easily whatever is on the table. If some people believes this is positive because decisions can be taken, ruling with no operation opposition can lead to authoritarianism. The «checks and balances» system is basically over.
Participation. After the second world war in Italy all parties worked together to the new Constitution, including the post-Fascist parties. Of course this happened for historical reasons (there was a country and a national unity to be rebuilt), but that common and shared process was based on the awareness of a work for all. All means everybody, no-one excluded. The new Italy had to be the synthesis of all the different parts of the society. It took three years, but Italy drafted and adopted the Constitutional chart. Today only the majority coalition parties have worked on the Constitution. All opposition parties didn't participate to the legislative activity. The spirit of inclusion behind the original Constitution has been betrayed. A Constitution is for all, not for few parts. The way chosen to introduce the Constitutional changes doesn't respect the idea of democracy. In democracy there are decision to be taken all together, and decision on Constitution is one of them. It has been shown a lack of confrontation will. Without spirit of confrontation can't be dialogue, without dialogue can't be democracy. With an history of fascism as Italy has, what is going on is not a good new at all.
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