From the Hunting Bill to the Security Bill: a final push in Parliament in September to convert the decrees into law
All eyes are on the Senate committees, which are due to finalise the long-contested electoral reform in the first few days of next month, following the final push by the government and the ruling coalition at the start of August
Key points
Parliament is in recess until early September. Plenary sessions will resume on the 9th, but all eyes are on the Senate committees, which, in the first few days of next month, will have to finalise the long-contested electoral reform, following the final push by the government and the ruling majority at the start of August.
The timetable for electoral reform
The amendments in committee will be tabled by 1 September; the text will then be considered by the Chamber from 9 September, with the final vote taking place by 15 September. The aim is to wrap up the process with the third reading in the Chamber by the end of the month.
The preferences node
The crux of the reform, within the centre-right, lies in the issue of preferential votes, a matter on which the majority’s sherpas reached a broad agreement in early August, which will need to be translated into a single amendment supported by all the coalition parties. This path is still fraught with potential obstacles, to the extent that a vote of confidence cannot be ruled out during the final stage in the Chamber of Deputies, following the vote in the Senate, which is expected to proceed without a hitch.
There could, however, be surprises during the final vote in the Chamber of Deputies, where a secret ballot may be requested: a move that has already caused the majority to lose the vote at first reading in Montecitorio on the sensitive issue of preferences, which is unpopular across the political spectrum with many MPs. And a negative outcome of the vote – as is being speculated in both the majority and opposition camps – would inevitably have an impact on the governing coalition.
The reform of Rai’s governance
Having cleared the ‘hurdle’ of the electoral law, Parliament will have to prepare this autumn to vote on the reform of Rai’s governance and the transposition of the Media Freedom Act. This marks another significant step in the run-up to the end of the parliamentary term, which could finally pave the way for the nomination of new members to the Supervisory Board. Against this backdrop, the issue of the chairmanship of the public broadcaster remains unresolved; Forza Italia currently appears to be sticking to its nomination of Simona Agnes, a choice unwelcome to the opposition, who view this more as a matter of procedure (the imposition of the majority’s will) than of the individual’s suitability.
