Several thousand opponents of the far-right government of Giorgia Meloni gathered in Rome, in Piazza Santi Apostoli, to denounce the dangers of two reforms under discussion in Parliament. That on the direct election of the head of government, adopted at first reading by the Senate – but which will still require a long journey, and that on differentiated autonomy which could be adopted very quickly. Launched by Matteo Salvini’s League and strongly supported by Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia, this reform risks institutionalizing the series A and B regions.
3 mins
Brightened up by flags bearing the image of the Democratic Party, the 5 Star Movement, and Plus Europe, Piazza Santi Apostoli was overflowing with demonstrators chanting this slogan: “ Let’s defend national unity! », reports our correspondent in Rome, Anne Le Nir.
In fact, the far-right majority in power in Italy provides for the autonomy of the 20 regions with ordinary status in 23 matters. Including education, health and social benefits.
“We will not allow this right to overturn the Constitution”
Its supporters argue that it will allow for better management of skills at the local level and will have positive effects at the national level. But for the opposition, differentiated autonomy will widen inequalities between the north and the south.
“ We refuse that there are Series A and Series B citizens, depending on the region in which they are born. This reform limits people’s fundamental rights. We will not accept the attempt to rewrite the history of our country. Long live anti-fascist Italy! , exclaims Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party, the second political force in the country. Elly Schlein appealed to all opposition parties to be united while respecting their diversity. “ We will not allow this right to overturn the Constitution “, launched Elly Schlein.
Uncertain path of reforms
The first reform to have taken a first concrete step is that of the election by universal suffrage of the Prime Minister with a vote on Tuesday in the Senate. This reform is desired by Giorgia Meloni who described her on first step forward to strengthen democracy and provide stability to our institutions », the opposition seeing parliamentarians at the behest of the Prime Minister, because in the event of a vote of no confidence in the head of government, the dissolution of Parliament is automatic.
La riforma sul Premierato passa en Senato. A first step forward to strengthen democracy, to maintain the stability of our institutions, to be fine with the government and to restore it to the government.
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) June 18, 2024
Another reform, that of the judiciary, provides for the complete separation of the training, careers and status of judges and prosecutors, accused of collusion of bodies to the detriment of the defense, while the opposition denounces the risk of ” the subjection of the prosecution to the executive “.
The path of these reforms remains uncertain, because any revision of the Constitution must be adopted twice, by both houses of Parliament, in the same terms and with a minimum period of three months between each vote. And if the last two votes do not reach two-thirds of the seats, a referendum must be organized. However, the ruling coalition does not currently have this two-thirds majority on the proposed text.