The Chamber of the Chamber with the empty benches during the discussion for the cut of the parliamentarians

  • Tagli MPs, Di Maio: "I expect cross-voting"

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08 October 2019 Cutting parliamentarians one step away from the finish line. The Chamber will today put its seal on the last of the four steps necessary for the definitive launch of the constitutional reform. On paper the consents will be much more than the simple absolute majority needed, which is touched with 316 yes. The agreement on the reforms reached in the governing coalition is also to 'armor' the vote.

Agreement summarized in a four-point document that provides for the 'corrective' linked to the cutting of parliamentarians. Among the commitments made in the government coalition there is also that of presenting the electoral reform by December. And this to guarantee "political and territorial pluralism" and gender equality, strongly desired by Italy alive. As well as the commitment to lower the age for the Senate vote by equating the requirements of active and passive electorate with Montecitorio and Palazzo Madama. The document also refers to constitutional interventions relating to the structure of the relationship of trust between chambers and the Government.

"It's a great agreement", states Graziano Delrio, group leader Dem at the Chamber at the end of the meeting, who adds: "As we know, we would have preferred a questioning of the bicameral system but, after asking for guarantees to continue, now there are all".

The final vote of one of the 5-star Movement's provisions was launched, which during the government negotiations made it a 'conditio sine qua non' to get the Giallorossi alliance off the ground. At the moment the only certain and announced is + Europe. "It is a constitutional reform without a sense, which is not to demagogically flaunt the cut of a piece of Parliament", is the criticism of Riccardo Magi in motivating the contrary vote.

The unknown factor, however, remains in the League, which yesterday deserted the Chamber. The Aventin choice then continues and it will be necessary to wait for the vote to understand its real intentions. In the parliamentary corridors it is rumored that the pressing put in place by the Northern League against the 5 most uncertain stars is ever stronger, to tear them away from the Movement and take them to their side. A maneuver that if passed, could reduce the front of the 'safe votes' to the cut of the elected, which therefore - is reasoned on the opposition front - could become the first important test for the government seal.

However, there is no concrete position to prove a change in the position of the League. After the summit which was held on Sunday between Matteo Salvini, Giorgia Meloni and Silvio Berlusconi, the yes to the reform was reiterated as a question of consistency with respect to the previous votes. Indeed Brothers of Italy guarantees its support in the Chamber. And indeed Fabio Rampelli points out and remembers that "the M5S has shamefully exploited a proposal that it has literally copied from others. In fact both the center-right and the center-left had voted two constitutional reforms that provided for a drastic cut of the parliamentarians that did not go to regime because the citizens rejected in the referendum the reform approved by the Chambers ". Forza Italy will also be in line, despite having opposed the Senate in July. Moreover, the President of the Senate, Elisabetta Casellati, in a lectio magistralis on the Constitution, recalled a ruling by the Constitutional Court which emphasizes that "two identical branches of the Parliament are not necessary, but two well-coordinated Chambers".