Italy To Reduce Number Of Lawmakers From 945 To 600

Italy ’s parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved slashing the number of lawmakers , a move the left- leaning government hopes will help keep the far -right from power .

Reducing the number of MPs and senators in Italy by 345 was a flagship manifesto promise of the anti -establishment Five Star Movement, which rules in coalition with the country ’s centre – left, and promised voters it would tackle political elitism and wasteful spending .

The move, linked to broader electoral law reforms, was passed by 553 MPs , with just 14 voting against and two abstentions.

“It’ s done !” the M 5 S said on its blog. “Promise kept .”

Italy currently has the second -highest number of lawmakers in the EU after Britain — some 630 elected representatives in the lower house and 315 in the Senate .

The constitutional reform, which could be subjected to a popular referendum in the coming months, cuts the number of MPs to 400 and senators to 200 from the next legislature , with an expected saving of some 100 million euros ( $ 110 million ) a year .

“It’ s a well -balanced reform with an excellent profile ,” legal expert Guido Neppi Modona told Il Fatto Quotidiano on Monday .

A reduced number of lawmakers will “lead parties to take particular care in choosing candidates , ” he said .

Critics have warned such a cut could affect popular representation , and increase the influence of lobbyists over governing institutions — all for a minimal saving that will have little effect on debt -laden Italy ’s budget balance.

– Mere Horse Trading ? –

This is the country ’s eighth attempt to cut its number of lawmakers since 1983 , according to the Open news website .

Five Star ( M 5 S ) made the cut a condition of its alliance with the centre – left Democratic Party ( PD) , following the collapse of the previous , far -right coalition in August .

The PD had previously voted against the reductions but agreed to support them if it meant clinching a deal with the M 5 S which would prevent a return to the polls and keep far – right leader Matteo Salvini out of power.

The party has insisted the cut be followed by a new electoral law and is pushing for the reintroduction of a proportional representation system .

Under the current mix of proportional representation and first -past- the -post systems , a winning coalition needs more than 40 per cent of the vote to have the necessary parliamentary majority .

With full proportional representation , parties or coalitions would need a much bigger majority to form a government .

– ‘Why The Haste ?’ –

That would force League leader Salvini to ditch any plans to run alone or with a small fellow far – right party at the next election , and force him instead to turn to former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi ’s centre -right Forza Italy party for help , the weekly L ’Espresso said .

“Why The Haste To Cut The Seats ?” constitutional expert Massimo Luciani said in the Corriere della Sera newspaper , pointing out that the coalition government — an unlikely alliance of former foes — could fall before changes to the electoral law can be made .

“To avoid ‘ surprises ’, the package of reforms should be launched at the same time ,” he said .

Lorenzo Codogno , former chief economist at the Italian Treasury Department, told AFP the pressing need to change the electoral law could serve as glue to hold the coalition together .

He warned however that “I have a feeling that ( the electoral law ) won’t happen very soon ”.

International markets and European investors watching the stability of the new coalition were right “ to worry about everything ,” he said .