Rome, 18 July (LaPresse) – The provision in the electoral law that invalidates votes for lists receiving less than 3 per cent – with the exception of the first list below the threshold – “certainly affects only the centre-left and risks having a decisive impact on the election result. We are potentially talking about millions of validly cast votes that are not allocated to the coalition. In 2022, we at Più Europa alone secured 2.95 per cent – 800,000 votes contributed to the coalition. This is a disgraceful act against voters, against political and personal histories that are not mere ‘side-shows’, but experiences of civic initiatives and struggles.” This was stated by the secretary of Più Europa, Riccardo Magi, in an interview with La Stampa. “This is a clearly anti-democratic principle, because the vote belongs to the citizens, not the parties. And that vote,” Magi emphasises, “is, in any case, cast to support a specific coalition and political group. If they’re going to reason like this, they might as well just write the names of the parties eligible to stand in the elections straight into the law. And, whilst they’re at it, the result too. The provision they have drafted is blatantly unconstitutional, and I believe it will also be subject to rigorous scrutiny by the Quirinale.” Within the centre-left, Magi adds, “there is an underestimation of the damage we could suffer. It must be said that the amendment was slipped in at the last minute, without going through committee debate, and received little attention in the discussion. However, I hope that all the centre-left parties will rise up ahead of the vote in the Senate, against a provision that fits perfectly into this law, which, in my view, is an electoral coup d’état. I have raised the issue with all” the centre-left leaders: “I hope they will take action and launch joint initiatives precisely to restore democratic freedom of action”.
Electoral law, Magi: ‘The provision against small parties is a disgrace that will cost the centre-left the election’
Rome, 18 July (LaPresse) – The provision in the electoral law that invalidates votes for lists receiving less than 3 per cent – with the exception of the first list below the threshold – “certainly affects only the centre-left and risks having a decisive impact on the election result. We are potentially talking about millions of validly cast votes that are not allocated to the coalition. In 2022, we at Più Europa alone secured 2.95 per cent – 800,000 votes contributed to the coalition. This is a disgraceful act against voters, against political and personal histories that are not mere ‘side-shows’, but experiences of civic initiatives and struggles.” This was stated by the secretary of Più Europa, Riccardo Magi, in an interview with La Stampa. “This is a clearly anti-democratic principle, because the vote belongs to the citizens, not the parties. And that vote,” Magi emphasises, “is, in any case, cast to support a specific coalition and political group. If they’re going to reason like this, they might as well just write the names of the parties eligible to stand in the elections straight into the law. And, whilst they’re at it, the result too. The provision they have drafted is blatantly unconstitutional, and I believe it will also be subject to rigorous scrutiny by the Quirinale.” Within the centre-left, Magi adds, “there is an underestimation of the damage we could suffer. It must be said that the amendment was slipped in at the last minute, without going through committee debate, and received little attention in the discussion. However, I hope that all the centre-left parties will rise up ahead of the vote in the Senate, against a provision that fits perfectly into this law, which, in my view, is an electoral coup d’état. I have raised the issue with all” the centre-left leaders: “I hope they will take action and launch joint initiatives precisely to restore democratic freedom of action”.
