Concerns about the possible impact of
Premier Giorgio Meloni's government's draft reform to introduce
the direction election of the prime minister were mentioned in
the Italy chapter on the European Commission's 2024 Rule of Law
report on Wednesday.
It pointed out that, in the case of a government crisis, "with
this reform, it would no longer be possible for the President of
the Republic to find an alternative majority and/or to appoint a
person outside Parliament as Prime Minister.
"Some stakeholders expressed concerns at the proposed changes to
the current system of institutional checks-and-balances, as well
as doubts that as to whether it would bring more stability," it
added.
Under the current system in Italy, parties engage in
government-formation talks after a general election and then the
coalition that forms a ruling majority in parliament agrees on a
figure to propose to the President of the Republic to become
premier.
That figure is not necessarily one of the politicians given by
the parties as their premier candidate during the election
campaign.
Meloni says the proposed reform to let Italians choose their
premiers directly will lead to stronger and more stable
governments in a country which has long been dogged by unstable
revolving door administrations.
Meloni has described the plan as the "mother of all reforms".
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