Beyond the competition: rethinking access to public administration

While maintaining the constitutional principle of competition, there is immediate scope for innovation that does not require further regulatory revolution. A precise mapping of the skills needed for each role would allow competitions finally tailored to real organisational needs. This approach is well established in the private sector, why not adopt it systematically in the public sector? Skills acquired in different contexts - from the private sector to the third sector, from voluntary work to international experience - should be recognised as qualifying elements, not as mere titles. Those who already work in the administration develop a wealth of knowledge that is rarely valued in selection processes. A genuine meritocratic system should also recognise 'merit in the field', especially for management competitions, where practical management experience is as crucial as theoretical preparation. Integrating traditional tests with modern assessment methodologies (business cases, situational tests, project work) would also allow a multidimensional assessment of candidates.

The Italian debate is often polarised between uncritical defenders of the traditional competition and supporters of a flexibility that runs the risk of being arbitrary. It is a false dilemma that paralyses innovation.

The real challenge is not to choose between rigour and flexibility, but to build a selection system that, while maintaining the principles of transparency and fairness, is able to grasp the complexity of merit in all its dimensions. We need to overcome the concept of the competition as a 'Linus blanket', a symbol of security to which one can cling uncritically, in order to transform it into a truly effective tool.

In this context, the reform proposed by Minister Paolo Zangrillo deserves attention. His attempt to combine the constitutional principle of competition with the valorisation of experience and performance evaluation potentially represents a paradigm shift.

The challenge will be to translate these principles into concrete practices, avoiding them turning into yet another regulatory engineering exercise with no real impact. The approach must be pragmatic and incremental: test new practices, evaluate their effectiveness, institutionalise what works.

Many of the necessary innovations can be implemented without waiting for yet another legislative revolution, simply by activating the flexibility spaces that already exist in the current regulatory framework, as the Zangrillo reform seeks to do.

It is time to overcome the rhetoric of merit in order to build a genuine meritocracy capable of attracting and enhancing the talent that the public administration so desperately needs. Only in this way will we be able to transform the public administration from an obstacle to an engine of competitiveness for the country.

Aran President