«Award winning, there is space. But I know the risks of presidentialism»- Corriere.it

ROME –
Tuesday first meeting on presidentialism. Action and Iv open to dialogue. Others don’t. Mara Carfagna, why?

«I believe that no regardless is a wrong attitude. Also because presidentialism is a generic word, which must be filled with content».

And so what?

«On the direct election of the head of government, an even larger majority than the current one could be found. And the modification of the electoral law that would be necessary could restore participation in our democracy”.

How do you evaluate the reform?

“At the moment there is no definite proposal. We need to understand if Meloni’s openness to dialogue is sincere. He knows well that on the direct election of the President of the Republic, FdI’s workhorse, he will never find consensus beyond the majority, and he would have problems with that too. On the other hand, the confrontation could go on with the directly elected premier ».

What do you expect?

We have been waiting for a text for months. Minister Casellati promised it for the summer. At the moment, I note the difficulty of keeping any presidential project together with the reform of the Autonomies of Minister Calderoli ».

Why?

«It acts in the opposite direction, “unpacking” Italy into many small autonomous republics even in relations with foreign countries. I, on the other hand, have developed a proposal that we will present shortly, to secure relations with the EU, foreign trade, the large transport and navigation networks, the production and distribution of energy within the competence of the state. Materials that if devolved to the Regions would complicate the life of businesses and citizens ».

Risks of constitutionality?

“They are always there when a partisan ideological design is being pursued: I hope this is not the case”.

Could the reform be carried out without everyone’s consent?

“No. It is the mistake that the left made with the reform of Title V on the powers of the Autonomies, approved with little difference. The consequence is this very high-risk Autonomy project».

She has always been a presidential candidate. Now?

«I saw an Italy where if there had been presidentialism perhaps Grillo would have gone to the Quirinale. Obvious to review positions matured in other times, with other ruling classes and political solidity”.

There are those who fear the imbalance of checks and balances. She?

“The risk is there. This is why constitutional reforms require care, competence and attention and sharing”.

Does anyone fear that instead of governability the strong man will return to command, you?

«More than the strong man or woman, we must be frightened by the concrete possibility that the direct election of the highest institutions will split the country into two boiling factions. We have also seen it happen in large democracies: I am thinking of the assault on Capitol Hill. Now that we know that risk, we have to take it into account.”

Presidentialism ranges from Macron to Biden to Putin. Which system do you prefer?

«I refuse to consider Russia a presidential system: it is an autocracy where the president can change the rules to stay in office beyond any limit. A regime where a man can be arrested because his daughter has made a pacifist design. In my house it’s called dictatorship.”

What powers would you give the president in a future presidential system?

«The direct election of the head of state is not a solution regardless of the powers of the President of the Republic. If he has few, it is useless to elect him. If you have too many, Parliament is no longer of any use. Let’s think how Italy would have experienced Covid, the energy emergency, the social crisis, the political convulsions of the previous legislature without a unifying guide like that of Sergio Mattarella: a man who represents the Republic and not a party, in which everyone could recognize each other»

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