Bonus mums and influencers: new entries in Parliament

Enhancing the value of cities and the wine-growing cultural heritage, creating new archaeological parks, regulating the activity of influencers. But also cutting contributions for working mothers with fixed-term or 'self-employed' contracts, combating housing hardship, setting up an agency to combat disinformation, amending Article 32 of the Constitution on women's right to the interruption of pregnancy and promoting gender equality. As always, it ranges across the board, or almost, the list of the 45 proposed laws of parliamentary initiative that have arrived in Parliament in the last three weeks. They also look at topical issues, on which the political debate has been rekindled in recent days, such as abortion or even aid to working mothers. Another issue in the spotlight remains that of the ageing population. Indirectly confirming this is a 'green' text promoted by centrist senator Antonio De Poli - announced on 21 March and assigned to the Environment Committee of Palazzo Madama on 9 April - which aims to introduce provisions for the planting of a tree for every centenarian resident 'in implementation of the guidelines defined by the planning, programming and management tools of urban and extra-urban green spaces'. In the introduction to the proposal, which is aimed at encouraging local administrations to enhance the 'elderly-environment' combination, De Poli explains that 'centenarians are living witnesses of a century of historical, social and cultural changes from which the Republic was born, and their example of active longevity and participation in community life represents a model to be protected'. The elderly population is also targeted by the proposal of Simone Billi (a Lega Nord deputy) who wants to extend the validity of the identity card to 20 years for the over 70s.

Third age and green are at the centre of a not inconsiderable slice of the bills that have invaded the Chambers in these first 18 months of the legislature. The Senate database shows that the number of texts is now close to 3,000, including those coming from the government or popular, regional and CNEL initiatives. Those promoted by deputies and senators number more than 2,500. In all, more than 1,500 have been assigned to the parliamentary commissions (but only 405 are being examined) and almost 500 are still pending. Among the latter is a legislative initiative of the PD, announced a few days ago, whose first signatory is the leader of the group in the Senate, Francesco Boccia, to establish the Tuscolo cultural archaeological park. In Montecitorio, on the other hand, a bill by Chamber of Deputies vice-president and architect Fabio Rampelli (Fdi), which introduces provisions for the recovery and valorisation of cities and foundation nuclei, has just been launched. Also in the Chamber, Giulio Centemero (Lega) is pushing for a delegation to the government to regulate the activities of influencers and digital content creators as well as the related economic sector. In Palazzo Madama, a text by Giulia Cosenza (Fdi) for the valorisation of the wine-growing cultural heritage, and the annual Taurasia prize of the vine opime, is also trying to get underway. Among the many proposals for the establishment of days to be dedicated to a theme, the one by Chamber of Deputies vice-president Giorgio Mulè (Fi), of a day for Italian internees in German concentration camps during World War II, has popped up.

As for the hottest chapters, the League in the Senate is pressing ahead with a text, signed by the group leader Massimiliano Romeo, which aims to extend the maternity bonus envisaged for workers (with children) on permanent contracts also to those with fixed-term contracts and to self-employed women. Then there is the proposal by Raffaele Speranzon (Fdi) with 'provisions for the reorganisation of regulations on social security benefits during employment'. Still in the Senate, Enrico Borghi (Iv) has announced an initiative to amend the Code of Military Order on the subject of requirements for access to recruitment in the Armed Forces. While in Montecitorio on 9 April a Ddl signed by Antonino Minardo (Misto) was printed, which aims to establish, within the Armed Forces, a pool of 10,000 military personnel 'to be allocated to the State's auxiliary reserve'. Borghi also promoted a text to establish an Agency to combat disinformation, in light of the increasingly 'concrete attempts to interfere by foreign powers through disinformation campaigns', especially by 'Russian military intelligence'.

A bill to amend Article 32 of the Constitution on women's right to the voluntary interruption of pregnancy is waiting to be 'assigned' in the Chamber of Deputies. Its signatory is Gilda Sportiello (M5S), one of the most fierce protesters of the FDI measures on consultancies. Also published was the proposal presented at the end of March in the Senate by Pentastellata Maria Domenica Castellone to legalise 'free and supportive' surrogacy. Last July, the Chamber of Deputies had approved a proposal by Fdi (first signatory Maria Carolina Varchi), now being examined by the Senate, which declares surrogate motherhood a universal crime, with the obligation for magistrates to prosecute a citizen even in the case of an offence committed abroad. A bill by Elena Bonetti (Azione) deals with gender equality and women's participation in economic and professional activity. While another bill (first signatory Cristina Rossello) aims at promoting gender balance and enhancing pluralism in the composition of companies' boards of directors.