June 19, 2024
1 min read

Italian Senate approves constitutional reform by Meloni govt 

The 109 votes secured in the Senate fell well short of the two-thirds majority needed for constitutional changes in both chambers in Italy…reports Asian Lite News

The Italian Senate has approved a controversial constitutional reform put forward by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government.

A total of 109 members voted in favour of the reform in the smaller of the two chambers of Parliament in Rome on Tuesday, with 77 against. The reform still faces several more hurdles before it can become law.

The ruling parties celebrated after the vote, while the opposition protested and symbolically held up copies of the constitution. The constitutional reform stipulates that in future the Prime Minister would be directly elected for five years and the coalition supporting the winning candidate would be given at least 55 per cent of seats in both Houses of Parliament to make sure it has a workable majority.

The 109 votes secured in the Senate fell well short of the two-thirds majority needed for constitutional changes in both chambers in Italy.

It is also not expected to receive such a majority in the Chamber of Deputies. If the two-thirds majorities are not secured, the measure has to be put to a referendum.

The last time such a referendum was held, was in 2016, the then head of government Matteo Renzi lost the vote and had to resign as a result.

The right-wing government in Rome wants to use the reform to combat the chronic instability of Italian governments.

Italy has had a total of nearly 70 governments since the end of the Second World War. While many agree that the political system therefore needs to be overhauled, the Meloni government’s reform has been sharply criticised by the opposition.

They fear that Meloni could take important powers away from Parliament and the President. Opposition leader Elly Schlein said that the reform would turn the governmental structure in Italy upside down, and concentrate power in a single person. The opposition announced its intention to take action against the plan.

ALSO READ-Ukraine conference communique calls out Russia

Previous Story

Scottish Labour launches ‘manifesto for change’

Next Story

Putin arrives in North Korea for his first visit in 24 years

Latest from -Top News

China Says US Tariff Hikes Violate WTO Rules

China is among the hardest-hit, facing a 34 per cent levy—part of what Washington describes as reciprocal measures aimed at rebalancing trade deficits and curbing unfair trade practices China has strongly condemned

Modi Due in Sri Lanka to Cement Ties

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha described the visit to island nation as “very important” and likely will set a fresh agenda for bilateral cooperation Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit

India Acts as ‘First Responder’ in Myanmar: Jaishankar

Jaishankar took the opportunity to underscore India’s swift humanitarian response, highlighting Operation Brahma, which was launched to assist those affected by the earthquake. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday expressed India’s
Go toTop