Giorgia Meloni wants to get serious about the constitutional reforms she promised to enact during her election campaign. She hopes to strengthen Italy’s executive branch in order to bring stability to a country that has struggled for several decades. Meloni claims that this is why the country is behind all of its European partners in growth. A stable government makes it possible to carry out long-term reforms that allow a country to grow and flourish. In her opinion, in order to ensure the government’s stability, the president of the executive needs to be directly elected by the citizens and not by the parties that win the election, as is the case now.
However, she faces a serious challenge. In the past, every politician who has ventured into the tortuous path of constitutional reforms have been left with nothing in their hands, like Massimo D’Alema who led a bicameral, a group made up of deputies and senators from all political parties, at the end of the ’90s to bring about constitutional reform. The commission foundered due to the cross vetoes of the various parties. Matteo Renzi fought for the position of prime minister in 2016, when his referendum, which was supposed to modify the government’s institutional structure, was soundly rejected.
Three years ago, however, the five-star movement managed to get a reduction of the number of parliamentarians approved, which remains the only constitutional reform that has managed to see the light, despite the fact that it is much criticized today. Giorgia Meloni is now trying to accomplish what others have failed to do. The presidential reform was one of the cornerstones of the program that won her the election.
Meloni’s Proposals
The state reform project proposed by Meloni’s party, Brothers of Italy (FDI), would be similar to the French system. Today the Italian president is elected by the parliament in a joint session, integrated by the representatives of the local authorities. FdI proposes the direct election of the head of state. They also hope to change certain qualifications. Candidates would be able stand at 40, as opposed to the current age limit of 50. They would have a five-year term, as opposed to the current seven-year term, with the possibility of being re-elected only once. The president would direct the general policy of the government and be responsible for it. He would maintain the unity of political and administrative direction, promoting and coordinating the activity of the ministers, with the help of the prime minister. The president would preside over the council of ministers, appoint the prime minister, and be able to appoint and dismiss ministers. Giorgia Meloni’s goal is to ensure greater institutional stability and a “decisive democracy.”
The government
In the system proposed by FdI, the prime minister would be a smaller figure than the president. The proposal states: “The president of the republic directs the general policy of the government and is responsible for it. He maintains the unity of political and administrative guidelines, promoting and coordinating the activity of the ministers, with the prime minister.” So the head of state would preside over the council of ministers, appoint the prime minister, and be able to appoint and dismiss other ministers.
However, there seems to be no discussion on the basic question of reform that Meloni wants to focus on. She hopes for a radical change of the structure of the state in a presidential direction for a more stable executive, without renouncing the guarantees provided by the country’s constitution. However, she needs to find a system that can obtain the consent of a wider slice of the parliament. Even within the current majority, there is disagreement on which system to adopt.
As the prime minister noted, democracy and economic growth “are intertwined, because democracy has an impact on growth, and economic growth can have an impact on the democratization processes.” She continued, “only a democratic system can guarantee sustainable and lasting growth, ensure better conditions in terms of justice, legality, functioning of the markets. … Having reactive and effective institutions makes it possible to be more reliable at the international level and to set long-term goals, and it is one of the priorities set by my government.” In short, the battle on constitutional reforms is just beginning, but Meloni is convinced that she will accomplish her aim. Her intention is to reach the end of the legislature with a radical change in the country’s institutional form. This seems to be one of his primary objectives in her first experience at the helm of the government.
Meloni Facing the Challenge of Constitutional Reforms
Giorgia Meloni wants to get serious about the constitutional reforms she promised to enact during her election campaign. She hopes to strengthen Italy’s executive branch in order to bring stability to a country that has struggled for several decades. Meloni claims that this is why the country is behind all of its European partners in growth. A stable government makes it possible to carry out long-term reforms that allow a country to grow and flourish. In her opinion, in order to ensure the government’s stability, the president of the executive needs to be directly elected by the citizens and not by the parties that win the election, as is the case now.
However, she faces a serious challenge. In the past, every politician who has ventured into the tortuous path of constitutional reforms have been left with nothing in their hands, like Massimo D’Alema who led a bicameral, a group made up of deputies and senators from all political parties, at the end of the ’90s to bring about constitutional reform. The commission foundered due to the cross vetoes of the various parties. Matteo Renzi fought for the position of prime minister in 2016, when his referendum, which was supposed to modify the government’s institutional structure, was soundly rejected.
Three years ago, however, the five-star movement managed to get a reduction of the number of parliamentarians approved, which remains the only constitutional reform that has managed to see the light, despite the fact that it is much criticized today. Giorgia Meloni is now trying to accomplish what others have failed to do. The presidential reform was one of the cornerstones of the program that won her the election.
Meloni’s Proposals
The state reform project proposed by Meloni’s party, Brothers of Italy (FDI), would be similar to the French system. Today the Italian president is elected by the parliament in a joint session, integrated by the representatives of the local authorities. FdI proposes the direct election of the head of state. They also hope to change certain qualifications. Candidates would be able stand at 40, as opposed to the current age limit of 50. They would have a five-year term, as opposed to the current seven-year term, with the possibility of being re-elected only once. The president would direct the general policy of the government and be responsible for it. He would maintain the unity of political and administrative direction, promoting and coordinating the activity of the ministers, with the help of the prime minister. The president would preside over the council of ministers, appoint the prime minister, and be able to appoint and dismiss ministers. Giorgia Meloni’s goal is to ensure greater institutional stability and a “decisive democracy.”
The government
In the system proposed by FdI, the prime minister would be a smaller figure than the president. The proposal states: “The president of the republic directs the general policy of the government and is responsible for it. He maintains the unity of political and administrative guidelines, promoting and coordinating the activity of the ministers, with the prime minister.” So the head of state would preside over the council of ministers, appoint the prime minister, and be able to appoint and dismiss other ministers.
However, there seems to be no discussion on the basic question of reform that Meloni wants to focus on. She hopes for a radical change of the structure of the state in a presidential direction for a more stable executive, without renouncing the guarantees provided by the country’s constitution. However, she needs to find a system that can obtain the consent of a wider slice of the parliament. Even within the current majority, there is disagreement on which system to adopt.
As the prime minister noted, democracy and economic growth “are intertwined, because democracy has an impact on growth, and economic growth can have an impact on the democratization processes.” She continued, “only a democratic system can guarantee sustainable and lasting growth, ensure better conditions in terms of justice, legality, functioning of the markets. … Having reactive and effective institutions makes it possible to be more reliable at the international level and to set long-term goals, and it is one of the priorities set by my government.” In short, the battle on constitutional reforms is just beginning, but Meloni is convinced that she will accomplish her aim. Her intention is to reach the end of the legislature with a radical change in the country’s institutional form. This seems to be one of his primary objectives in her first experience at the helm of the government.
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