The centre-right breaks the taboo of a run-off: amendments tabled in the Senate plenary session

The national run-off between the top two coalitions – initially provided for by the ‘Stabilicum’ or ‘Melonellum’, whichever you prefer, and subsequently scrapped in the Chamber of Deputies due to opposition from the Lega and Forza Italia, as well as doubts expressed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni herself – has made a comeback in the Senate. Whichever way it turns out, this marks the breaking of a historic taboo for the centre-right.

The Trojan horse is an amendment long in the making by the former President of the Senate and Fratelli d’Italia senator Marcello Pera (see his article of 28 August in these columns), which was tabled directly in the Chamber last night following the party’s approval. Pera’s amendment is also expected to be joined in the coming hours by a similar amendment from Forza Italia, spearheaded by group leader Stefania Craxi.

There is now time until the vote in the Chamber (scheduled for 9 September, with approval expected on 15 September) for further deliberation at Palazzo Chigi and, above all, to convince the Lega, which fears that the call for a ‘tactical vote’ in favour of Roberto Vannacci’s party may carry less weight in the first round.

The Pera amendment was drawn up in collaboration with the so-called bipartisan constitutionalists, who in July issued an appeal signed by over 260 people, including prominent members of the PD such as Pierluigi Castagnetti and Piero Fassino, and in particular with the contribution of Stefano Ceccanti of LibertàEguale and Peppino Calderisi of Magna Carta. Here is a summary: the bonus is to be awarded in the first round only if the leading list or coalition secures 48 per cent of the votes in both Houses; failing that, a run-off takes place between the top two lists or coalitions, provided both have secured 38 per cent of the votes in both Houses; if only one list has exceeded 38 per cent, the bonus is awarded in the first round – amounting to 220 deputies and 113 senators – only if the leading list or coalition has obtained at least 42 per cent of the votes in both Houses. Furthermore, no further electoral alliances are permitted after the first round: in short, it is not possible for the centre-right to form an alliance with Vannacci or for the centre-left to form an alliance with Calenda’s ‘Azione’ between the first and second rounds, but there is nothing to prevent their respective voters from aligning themselves with the bloc closest to their views.

It is no coincidence that Vannacci and Calenda are among those most incensed by the prospect of a run-off (“it’s a move born of fear”, says the General, who is polling at between 7 and 8 per cent at the expense of the League, which stands at between 5 and 6 per cent). But the PD is also putting up a barrier: ‘Today, disregarding the concerns already raised by constitutional experts in the Chamber of Deputies, out of fear of Vannacci the right is declaring that the debate on the run-off has been reopened. It is unbelievable to treat Parliament like this, for one’s own ends,’ thunders Senator Dario Parrini on behalf of Secretary Elly Schlein.