The recently released government program of the coalition led by the far-right deputy Giorgia Meloni became the target of criticism in Italy for proposing a change in the way the president of the Republic is elected.
Currently, the head of state is chosen by Parliament and has a seven-year mandate, but the alliance formed by the ultranationalist parties Brothers of Italy (FdI), by Meloni, and the League, by Matteo Salvini, and by the conservative Força Itália (FI), of Silvia Berlusconi, proposes direct election for president.
Furthermore, the coalition leaders openly talk about replacing parliamentarism with presidentialism, which would give broad powers to the candidate with the most votes, regardless of their support in the Legislature, as is the case in Brazil and the USA.
“I hope that the constitutional reform of presidentialism is approved. I have been proposing a presidential system since 1995”, said Berlusconi, who has always complained about having governed with “left-wing” heads of state.
The former prime minister also turned his weapons against the current tenant of the Quirinale Palace, Sergio Mattarella, re-elected at the beginning of 2022 for another seven years in office. “If the reform comes into force, [Mattarella’s] resignation would be necessary for the direct election of a head of state,” Berlusconi said. (Handle)
