Three bills: Casellati, Calderoli, Nordio. Three. Of these, the Differentiated Autonomy became law just yesterday, after a long night in the Chamber which sparked criticism from the opposition, which then gathered in the afternoon to demonstrate in Piazza dei Santi Apostoli, in Rome.
Differentiated autonomy, all the regional flags in the classroom: from Veneto to Romagna, the meanings
Since the beginning of her mandate in 2022, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has put three different measures on the table, in sync: justice reform, differentiated autonomy and the premiership. “We are here to change this nation and all the reforms we have made are economic reforms”, the Prime Minister herself specified yesterday. And we certainly can’t blame her or question the transformative nature of her mandate (at least for now). But this paves the way for three institutional referendums. What are they and above all when would Italians be called to vote?
Referendums, how they work
Before starting, a little clarification: with the referendum the citizen actively participates in political decisionsintegrates it, modifies it, repeals it, or otherwise expresses an opinion on a specific topic. the citizen becomes the protagonist of the democratic process of his country.
The typologies
There are different types of referendums. The consultative referendum is the least binding, because the legislator may not take into account the outcome of the consultation. Then the confirmatory referendum: with this type of referendum citizens are called to decide on the entry into force of a law. The repeal referendum, however, is an instrument with which citizens they can request the total or partial repeal of a law. If the referendum has a positive outcome, it follows that the law which was the subject of the popular consultation will be expunged from the law. This is followed by the proactive referendum: with this institution, citizens, after having collected a certain number of signatures, can present a bill with the intention of submitting it to popular consultation. Finally, mandatory referendums, foreseen by law or by the Constitution as mandatory for making a specific decision. In the Italian legal system, for example, the consultations provided for by article 132 are mandatory, and the optional ones, which can be activated at the request of citizens or by representative bodies.
Hypothesis three referendums of the Meloni government
The three measures of the Meloni government would require dtwo mandatory and confirmatory referenda (therefore without a quorum) if the respective constitutional reforms do not reach two thirds of the votes in Parliament. Regional autonomy, on the other hand, would be repealed (therefore with a quorum required) and would be promoted through a collection of signatures. To be considered valid, at least 50% of voters must participate in the vote (the so-called “quorum”) and the proposal subject to referendum is approved if a majority of valid votes is reached. If the quorum is not reached, the current law remains in force, regardless of the result of the referendum.
When?
Then there are the organizational problems to evaluate: how can three different referendums be organized in the space of three years? The truth is that nothing is known yet. Will they be split? Will they all be organized together? We will find out soon. In the meantime, let’s keep our voter ID ready.
The reactions
Meanwhile, against autonomy and the premiership, the opposition is preparing for the first referendum battle, the one against autonomy: «The Democratic Party, together with the other oppositions, movements and civil society, is ready to immediately collect signatures for a referendum against Spacca Italia”, they reported yesterday in a note. Azione and IV also say they are ready to mobilise. «I will ask the over 200 thousand people who put my name on the ballot for the European elections to sign the referendum against autonomy», says Matteo Renzi. «It is a measure that is of no use to the north and which is bad for the south. Institutional madness.” The same goes for Calenda: «Ready to join the referendum battle».
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