Strengthened by the electoral result, the majority approves the bill on the premiership in the Senate at first reading and accelerates it in the Chamber on Autonomy: thus respecting what the leader of the League group at Palazzo Madama, Massimiliano Romeo, once again defines as “a political agreement” between parties of the same government coalition and not “an electoral exchange”, as reiterated by the opposition which takes to the streets to protest against the two reforms.
After the unrest of recent days, the constitutional bill which aims at the direct election of the Prime Minister passes the Senate with 109 yes, 77 no and only one abstention (SvP senator Meinhard Durnwalder). But without any particular chaos.
ANSA Agency Premiership: from the powers of the Prime Minister to those of the Colle, the issues New electoral law and role of Italians abroad to be clarified (ANSA) Also because, as the president of Palazzo Madama, Ignazio La Russa, observed at the opening of the proceedings, the session is broadcast live on TV and therefore he “does not expect any disruptive actions”.
The only note of ‘colour’ is that of the centre-left parliamentarians who, immediately after the vote, wave the volumes of the Constitution in the air. Promptly imitated by those of the centre-right who, in addition to books, also wave small tricolor flags. Then, after the approval of the text, greeted with long applause and defined by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a “first step forward that strengthens democracy”, all the senators take to the streets. Those of the opposition to Santi Apostoli, to harangue the crowds in view of the referendum; those of Fratelli d’Italia in San Luigi dei Francesi to give life to what they call a flashmob, complete with a banner with the words: “End of the Palazzo games – With this reform the Italians will decide” and with the national anthem sung at the top of his lungs in front of photographers and cameras. “The train has left and there is no turning back” comments the Minister for Reforms Elisabetta Casellati, who this time at the government benches finds herself in the company of many government representatives including the deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini. “Great satisfaction” is expressed by the president of the Constitutional Affairs Commission Alberto Balboni who reiterates that to have at least a draft of the new electoral law we will have to wait for the first reading, i.e. also the green light from the Chamber, where the bill will now be transmitted. The climate in Montecitorio was more heated and at the same time approved, with a 53-vote margin, the reversal of the work of the Chamber to approve Differentiated Autonomy as soon as possible. The session, during which the opposition obstructed with rapid-fire interventions, was interrupted to allow the center-left to be in the streets. A “lost time” that will still be made up for in the night session. FI, meanwhile, presents 4 agendas to set its limits on the reform which is about to become state law. “You may like it or not – minister Roberto Calderoli cuts it short – but we are implementing the Constitution”. The opposition has an opposite opinion, branding both reforms as “dangerous”. Starting with the premiership against which 180 constitutionalists are also attacking. In the Senate, starting with the M5S group leaders Stefano Patuanelli and AVS Peppe De Cristofaro, the referendum is loudly called for.
A hypothesis that doesn’t seem to scare La Russa too much (“It wouldn’t be anything dramatic”). Although he then adds that, “from now until the end of the 4 scheduled votes” for the constitutional bills, “everything is possible”. At the moment, however, even Action and IV, whose votes the majority continues to hope for, are pointing the finger at the bill, with Carlo Calenda saying he is also worried about the “political consequences” and with Renzian Enrico Borghi branding it as “disappointing patch”.
“More people and less palace” is the summary given by the FI group leader Maurizio Gasparri of the text, while the Dem Francesco Boccia speaks of “power bulimia” on the part of the majority.
“It’s a party today, let’s not spoil the atmosphere”, replies Marcello Pera (FDI) to those who ask him if he is satisfied with the text on the premiership as it is.
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA
