The reform of the electoral law becomes law. Melons: "Answer with facts to those who wanted…

Between applause, “lookouts”, accusations, photos shown, quotes and protests complete with signs in the Chamber, the center-right electoral reform overcomes even the last obstacle of the secret vote and becomes law. The proportional system with majority bonus, leaders blocked without gender equality obligation and the possibility of giving up to three preferences receives 227 votes in favor and 164 votes against. There were very few absences on both sides, with the government benches in full force (absent, but justified because they were on a mission, only Prime Minister Meloni and the head of Economy Giorgetti), while the opposition lined up the leaders (from Schlein to Conte, both registered to speak in the explanation of vote).

The numbers of the vote and the holding of the majority

No “thrills” about the secret vote: as had already been in the air for a few days, the center-right appears compact and the snipers can be counted on the fingers of one hand (between 5 and 6 the “missing” votes, certainly no more than 8, even if the Dems manage to count at least a dozen, and there are still 8 more votes gained by the no-to-reform front). In short, numbers which – on paper – do not allow us to talk about divisions or signals on either side.

The reaction of Prime Minister Meloni and the government

The first to rejoice is the Prime Minister herself who, on the eve of the final rush on the reform, had warned allies and deputies: if the electoral law doesn’t pass, everyone goes home. And the majority responds by showing up unitedly at the last appointment. “To those who hoped to see the center-right divided, today we respond with facts: we are united, compact and determined to carry forward the commitments made with the citizens. Carry on like this”, writes Giorgia Meloni on social media a few minutes after the vote.

“When Italians return to vote they will be able to choose everything: the party, the coalition, the programme, the candidate for prime minister and – again – their own parliamentarian. The centre-right reintroduces preferential voting, which has been missing for over thirty years, giving citizens the power to directly choose who represents them. Stable governments and greater participation mean more continuity, more responsibility and more ability to give concrete answers to Italians”, claims the prime minister. Then, in the afternoon, at an event in Ascoli Piceno, she admits: “I’m satisfied.” FdI minister Tommaso Foti quips: “The opposition is finally united in defeat”.

The criticisms of the opposition and the appeals to the Consulta

The words of the centre-left are of an opposite tone, united in the belief of the unconstitutionality of the law, so much so that the appeal process will begin immediately, aiming for a ruling from the Council before returning to the polls. For Angelo Bonelli “Meloni already has a plan B: if no one reaches 42% the pure propositional kicks in and she will make the agreement with Vannacci”.

And it is precisely the Vannaccia supporters who are open to dialogue with the centre-right, which to win “needs Vannacci”, as long as the confrontation is “serious and respectful”, says Edoardo Ziello in the Chamber. The dem leader Elly Schlein highlights the “embarrassment of the majority” forced “under blackmail” to vote for the same laws “rejected in mid-July” and they do so “because they are afraid of the elections”. But “go ahead and change the electoral law yourself, as we as a progressive alliance will be able to win with any law”, he assures. The M5s leader Giuseppe Conte is also convinced of this and addresses Meloni: “Here there is a strong opposition that will send you home”.

The clash between Conte and Donzelli

The back-and-forth that takes place between Conte and Giovanni Donzelli of FdI is harsh: the former shows in the Chamber the photos of the five-star Scarpinato – attacked by FdI who asks for his resignation from the anti-mafia – together with Borsellino and Falcone; the second replies that “even in the paintings of the last supper Judas is sitting next to Jesus”.

Protests, cartels and the case of the “lookouts” in the Chamber

But between mutual accusations between the two sides, it is at the moment of the vote that the chamber becomes inflamed: President Fontana proclaims the result and the majority – especially the FdI deputies – explodes in applause, everyone jumps to their feet, while on the left side of the Chamber the opposition displays signs with the words “No to Cheating”, “Sfraud Law”, and “With Meloni wages at stake”.

As happened already last July, and then again last week for the secret vote on the preliminary rulings, the FdI “lookouts” are back in action, positioned in the last benches at the top of the Chamber. It is the dem leader herself, in her speech, indicating the upper part of the chamber with her outstretched arm: “You are afraid, you have placed 5 colonels in the last row to check your neighbour’s little finger”. And it is not the only one, so much so that President Fontana several times during the vote invites “the deputies to sit down, everyone to sit down”, he says. After the vote, to journalists who pointed out that he had moved from his desk to a higher desk, Donzelli jokingly replied: “I went to phone… it often happens that I move…”.