Politics
in the opposition •
The ‘Cespugli’ revolt. Onorato writes to Mattarella in protest against the Melonellum. Conte: “The President must intervene”. Renzi’s proposal
The amendment making it more difficult for new parties to collect signatures is causing a stir across the political spectrum. And Progetto Civico is spearheading the protest. Meanwhile, at the Festa dell’Unità, the leader of IV sends a signal to the centre: “IV has the signatures and we are willing to be represented by someone other than myself. A mayor to sit at the programme negotiating table.”
It is the revolt of the ‘underdogs’. Calls are being made for the Constitutional Court to intervene, and for the Quirinale to step in. “This is a rule aimed at Progetto Civico Italia. They want to exclude us,” says Alessandro Onorato, announcing protests for next week: “If Meloni does not back down, we will take to the streets.” Giuseppe Conte offers his support: “I am asking Mattarella to intervene. The M5S is at your disposal to help collect signatures’. Later, Elly Schlein also announces a ‘battle’, whilst Renzi sends signals to the centre. In the Senate, the electoral law is being debated and amended, and controversy has flared up once more. To avoid objections from the President’s Office, the provision – championed by Forza Italia – which excluded votes for parties below three per cent from the calculation of the majority bonus has been scrapped. In its place comes an amendment, tabled by Zedda of FdI, which could, however, run the same risk. Initially, the proposal stipulated that new parties, in order to stand for election, would have to collect 700,000 signatures – no longer 1,500 per constituency but 9,000. A blunder. Following protests, it was reworked. It is a measure that could disrupt the plans of ‘Progetto Civico’, precisely, but also those of Ernesto Maria Ruffini of Rifondazione Comunista. And then, for what it’s worth, there are ‘Potere al Popolo’ and the movement launched by Angelo D’Orsi. The amendment was first shelved, then reworded and finally approved in its new version: the required number of signatures will now be 6,000, making a total of around 300,000.
“One per cent of valid votes in the last election,” points out Democrat Dario Parrini: “A disgrace worthy of a South American regime.” Those signatures would be halved in the event of a snap election, as La Russa pointed out, having also said today that he “would not rule out” this possibility. Meanwhile, those who already have representation in one of the chambers – such as Vannacci or Più Europa – will only need to secure a further 1,500. But this does little to alter the political substance of an amendment that is sparking protests on the left, and even some suspicion amongst allies. Onorato is the most combative; he has written a letter to the Quirinale, “so that it may keep a watchful eye – as it surely will – on what is happening in Parliament”. The leader of the PcI speaks of “a deliberately created barrier”. He points out: “We Moderates received only 275,000 votes in the last election, that is, 100,000 fewer than the 378,000 signatures that must now be collected in order to stand before the electorate”. The Rome city councillor is preparing a mobilisation. He has spoken with the leaders of the broad coalition to try to act in unison. In the afternoon, Conte addressed the crowd from Campobasso at the Festa dell’Avanti, organised by Enzo Maraio’s PSI, where efforts are underway to build an alternative centre-party movement, without Renzi. The M5S wants to “reach out to new forces that can draw support from the abstentionist vote; we must ensure that you are there. Since this threshold is illiberal, anti-democratic and unconstitutional, the M5S is at your disposal to help collect signatures”. There is also talk of creating new ad hoc groups in the Senate to circumvent the rule and assist the PCI. This option, however, is not well received at the Nazareno headquarters (where an alarming poll has been circulating in recent hours: the PD at 19.5 per cent). Bettini, who has a certain rapport with the M5S leader and with Onorato, might, however, take a different view. Speaking from Campobasso via video link, Schlein also intervened, pledging her support for the battle against the ‘Melonellum’.
Meanwhile, at the Festa dell’Unità in Reggio Emilia, Renzi is holding talks with Franceschini and trying to steer the party towards the centre. He mentions Ruffini and Gabrielli and calls for unity: “Iv has the signatures and we are willing to be represented by someone other than Renzi. I would choose a mayor – male or female – to sit at the programme negotiating table”.
Another amendment, tabled by the Democrat Andrea Giorgis, concerning the digital collection of signatures – a battle Magi has been waging for some time – was also shelved today. The matter will be discussed again on Monday, but in the meantime the government has issued a negative opinion, suggesting it be turned into an agenda item (perhaps for the elections decree). However, it is the amendment on the collection of signatures that will continue to dominate the debate. Magi too has described it as “a disgrace”, although, having a presence in the Chamber of Deputies, he might well derive some advantage from it in the gruelling debates within the liberal camp. Meanwhile, discussion has returned to the “democratic risk”, and thoughts are already turning to legal challenges. The signature issue could also affect Ernesto Maria Ruffini, who is taking a cautious line. Speaking to Il Foglio, he says: “Let’s wait for the end of the match, which only ends when the referee blows the whistle. And in this match, the referee is the Constitutional Court.”