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In Italy, a controversy has erupted over the proposal to give extra seats in Parliament to the party or coalition that wins the elections. Prime Minister Georgia Meloni’s government wants to bring this law. Under this, the party or alliance that wins the elections can get 105 additional seats in the Parliament.
However, for this he will have to get at least 42% votes in both the houses. The government says that this will bring political stability in the country and governments will not fall again and again. At the same time, opponents allege that this law will give more power to the alliance that wins the elections.
Voting on this law is to be held in Parliament today. Meloni has clearly said that if the law is not passed, she will resign. In such a situation, this voting is being considered important for his government.
If the law is implemented, how will the seats be distributed?
There are a total of 600 seats in the Italian Parliament, including 400 in the Lower House and 200 in the Senate. According to the proposal, if a party or coalition remains at the forefront by securing at least 42% of the votes, it will be given 70 bonus seats in the Lower House and 35 in the Senate.
These seats will be distributed within the total number only. This does not mean that 70 seats will be added to the 400 in the Lower House. Total seats will remain only 400.
Let us understand this with an example:
Suppose in the election
- Party A alliance got 43% votes
- Party B got 35% votes
- Rest of the parties got 22% votes
Now under the new rule, the winning alliance of Party A will get a bonus of 70 seats. The remaining seats will be distributed among other parties.
That is, Party A will get the benefit of bonus in addition to the seats it gets on the basis of its 43% votes, due to which its number of seats in Parliament can be more than its vote percentage.
Italy’s lower house.
68 governments were formed in Italy in 80 years
Italy has a long history of unstable governments. Since Italy became a republic in 1946, 68 governments have been formed there. In 1954, a government lasted only 22 days.
Last month Georgia Meloni set a record. After becoming Prime Minister in September 2022, his government became the longest-running government in the history of Italy.
The five-year term of Maloney’s current government is to end next year. However, if there is a break in the ruling coalition regarding this law, then premature elections may also be held in the country.
Regarding this proposal, the government of Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni’s argument is that the winning coalition will have enough strength by getting the seats.
Opponents said- this is a threat to democracy
Opponents say that by getting additional seats, the coalition that wins the elections may have more power than necessary in Parliament. With this, he will be able to take many major decisions without talking to other MPs. These also include important matters like appointment of judges and President. This is a threat to democracy.
Massimo Giannini, a leftist journalist and political analyst, compared this law to a law enacted in 1923. That law helped the National Fascist Party capture the Parliament at that time.
“103 years later, the same pattern is being repeated again. Giving bonus seats for super majorities in electoral law changes the balance of democracy,” Giannini said in his podcast.
Journalist and political analyst Massimo Giannini. (file photo)
Debate even on the name of law
Supporters of the law have named it ‘Stabilicum’ i.e. ‘stability’. He says that its purpose is to stabilize the governments in Italy. The political history of Italy is not known for long-lasting governments. Many governments there fell after a short time.
At the same time, the opponents have linked it to Meloni and named it ‘Melonellum’. They allege that an electoral law has been prepared in Meloni’s favor so that he can come back to power.
If this law is passed, opposition parties and organizations are preparing to challenge it in the Constitutional Court of Italy.
The name of the candidate for the post of Prime Minister will also be announced in advance.
There is also a rule in the proposal that the alliance contesting the elections will declare the name of its candidate for the post of Prime Minister even before the voting. The government says that with this the voters will know in advance who will become the Prime Minister if they win. This will bring clarity and transparency in the elections.
But opponents say that in Italy it is the President’s right to choose the Prime Minister. The President is elected by the Parliament and he also has some special powers related to law making and judicial system. Opponents feel that the rule of deciding candidates in advance can weaken the role of the President.
There was an attempt to give bonus seats earlier also
In Italy, since 1993, six electoral laws have been enacted to bring political stability. Earlier too, attempts were made to give additional seats to the winning party.
There was a similar provision in an electoral law made in 2005, but in 2013 the Constitutional Court of Italy declared it unconstitutional. The court said that no minimum percentage of votes was fixed for giving additional seats.
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