Fiftyeight. These are the Bergamo municipalities which in the last five years, from 2019 to 2023, went to the vote with a single mayoral candidate and a single list for the municipality, and in which therefore today there is not present – in theory – a council minority: the quorum, the City Council was “filled” entirely by the members of the only group that had presented itself. «In theory», because in practice that single group may then have divided over the years for internal reasons, forming an opposition: this is what happened recently, for example, in Castione della Presolana.
With the exceptions of the case removed, however, it can be said that today in the Bergamo area almost one municipality in four does not see a council minority sitting on the benches. This in no way implies an automatic lack of discussion and debate, which can occur (and often occurs in a very lively manner) even within the same group. But certainly a fundamental component of the functioning of municipalities as we know them is missing.
The “verdict” of June 10th
And the figure could soon increase: in the important elections scheduled in a week, in fact, 46 towns in our province will see only one list running. Five years ago there were forty. Therefore, potentially, from Monday 10 June there could be a total of six more municipalities with a single majority (provided that no commissioners are appointed due to failure to reach the quorum: this will only be known after the vote).
The trend is part of the decline in applications that has been seen in recent years. In 2014, there were 414 aspiring first citizens in the Bergamo area, from 172 towns, of which only 26 had a single candidate running. And situations in which four, or even five lists presented themselves were not uncommon. Today we are approaching a vote that will see 323 mayoral candidates competing for 164 municipalities: around ninety fewer competitors than ten years ago, and almost double the number of “monolist” candidates.
The analysis
For some countries the single list has practically become a habit: again to limit ourselves to the last ten years, Gaverina, Fondra Island, Lenna, Olmo at Brembo, Songavazzo, Spinone And Torre de’ Roveri they had only one candidate in 2014, in 2019, and they also have one for the now imminent session.
The trend is especially noticeable in small and mountain municipalities, but it is certainly not exclusive: at the vote in June, for example, the challenge with the quorum will also open up for At least San Bartolomeo, Villa d’Almè, Pedrengo, Telgate And Brembate
In 2014, there were 414 aspiring first citizens in the Bergamo area, from 172 towns, of which only 26 had a single candidate running. And situations in which four, or even five lists presented themselves were not uncommon. Today we are approaching a vote that will see 323 mayoral candidates competing for 164 municipalities: around ninety fewer competitors than ten years ago, and almost double the number of “monolist” candidates.
It should be underlined that the “monolist” condition is far from irreversible: around half of the Municipalities that five years ago had only one team in the running, today see at least two emerge, if not three, as in the case of Pognano, Fara d’Adda And Sant’Omobono Terme. The last two are also an example of different paths taken by the same outgoing majority, with deputy mayors (former or in office) running against the mayor.
Voting operations
The thresholds and the “foreign” vote
The issue of the decline in running groups is certainly not just Bergamo. In recent years, the rules on the quorum for municipalities with a single list have also been modified, in the direction of facilitating the achievement of the required threshold, in a historical period in which, among other things, turnout marks a constant decline. The new rule came into force for the first time during the pandemic period: under 15 thousand inhabitants, for the validity of the vote, the “structural” quorum (i.e. the percentage of those entitled to go to the polls) was reduced from 50 to 40 %, while the “functional” quorum remained unchanged: the sole candidate must obtain at least half of the valid votes. Furthermore, in determining the number of those entitled to vote, those registered in the Registry of Italians residing abroad (Aire) are not counted if they do not go to vote. And in our area this “slice” of the electorate is increasing: today there are almost 57 thousand.
Reduction of the participation threshold to 40%
Born as a measure linked precisely to Covid and the related difficulty of travel, it was however then reconfirmed year after year until today, in a clear attempt to reduce the risks of “null” votes and a multiplication of commissioners. The reduction of the participation threshold to 40% has in fact already “saved” several monolist municipalities in recent years: in 2021, for example, they exceeded 40%, but did not reach 50, Ardesio, Castione, Gromo, Locatello and Medolago.
As several administrators note, the possibility of presenting oneself is open to everyone: the fact that this does not happen in some countries is not necessarily a sign of lack of liveliness or discussion. And in any case the single list also faces the challengenot always simple, of the quorum. But, beyond the choice at the ballot box, the presence of a minority during the mandate is a spur and a training ground for discussion that increasingly risks failing.
