The Senate Constitutional Affairs Committee has given the green light to the core of the government’s reform of the Italian premiership, paving the way for the direct election of the PM by the Italian people.
This significant change would alter article 92 of the Italian Constitution, enshrining in the founding charter the principle of the direct election of the PM and imposing a two-term limit on their tenure.
Under the existing system in Italy, parties negotiate government formation after a general election, and the coalition that secures a ruling majority in parliament nominates a candidate to propose to the President of the Republic as premier.
However, this candidate is not necessarily one of the politicians identified by the parties as their premier candidate during the election campaign.
Reform expected to require referendum
The proposed reform, expected to face a referendum after parliamentary approval, has drawn criticism for potentially eroding the powers of the head of State. Premier Giorgia Meloni, however, refuted these claims.
She said, “I do not see in what way the direct election of the head of government means taking power away from the head of state, seeing as we have chosen not to touch the head of state’s powers.”
She reiterated that the reform aims to strike a balance and strengthen government stability.
Addressing concerns about the referendum, Meloni said it’s not about the government or herself but about determining the future course. However, the centre-left opposition Democratic Party (PD) strongly opposes the reform, labelling it “dangerous” and asserting that it “weakens parliament and the prerogatives of the President of the Republic.”
PD Secretary Elly Schlein denounced the reform as “a distortion of the Constitution and the parliamentary Republic” and pledged to utilise parliamentary means to oppose it vigorously.