Elena Cattaneo’s speech on the premiership, within the Senate

Senator for all times Elena Cattaneo she spoke at Palazzo Madama throughout the dialogue on the constitutional invoice which introduces the reform of the prime ministership.

Right here is the total textual content of his speech.

I’ve been in Parliament for eleven years, I observe its actions and I’ve discovered from you, fellow senators of all affiliations, out of your interventions and your initiatives, that within the “Parliament-Authorities” dynamic there’s a constitutional physique that has lengthy been a a fantastic affected person, an organ that’s unable to totally train its correct dominion. This nice affected person of republican establishments is Parliament. From you I discovered that the legislative operate which – based on the Structure – belongs completely to him, besides in distinctive instances, has now turn into, quite the opposite, nearly completely the prerogative of the Authorities, which disposes of it at will and, if needed, in a tombless method, with the systematic use of the emergency decree, mixed with maxi-amendments and the vote of confidence. Instruments that I perceive ought to be distinctive and which as an alternative have turn into “the rule” of our work.

The “elephant within the room” that we fake to not see right this moment will not be solely what’s contained within the textual content below dialogue however, for my part, above all what will not be in that textual content: that’s, the necessity to restore power , dignity and autonomy to a weakened Parliament. It’s exactly a robust and “wholesome” Parliament that’s indispensable for sustaining the stability of the democratic and authorized system, it’s exactly the stability between the constitutional our bodies and their powers that ensures freedom, equality, rights and well-being for residents. Colleagues , I imagine you’ll be able to share the sensation I typically have of dwelling in a “Parliament in reverse” (with respect to the written Structure).

A Parliament typically degraded to a mere ratifier of decisions made elsewhere. On this context, imagining that someday the federal government – or, extra exactly, the elected Prime Minister – can independently decide the dissolution of the Chambers would imply decreeing the top of an already “sick” constitutional physique. To keep away from this finish, I imagine that the dialogue on the strengthening of the Prime Minister can not fail to have the strengthening of Parliament as a legal-constitutional prerequisite. Some provisions of this reform, from what I’ve been in a position to perceive additionally from numerous interventions, should not unfavorable in themselves, certainly within the summary they might even be thought of applicable (I’m pondering of the potential for appointing and dismissing ministers by the Prime Minister) however they turn into unacceptable as a complete if – as on this case – they don’t seem to be accompanied by guidelines and establishments of constitutional, legislative and regulatory standing geared toward strengthening Parliament, thus performing as checks and balances for the facility of the chief.

It doesn’t stand as much as the scrutiny of logic, even earlier than that of superior democracy, to suppose that Parliament, elected similtaneously the Prime Minister (and due to this fact considerably “by drag”) doesn’t have any substantial autonomous type of management over the federal government’s exercise, whereas the federal government can decide each its legislative exercise and, at any time – on the discretion of the Prime Minister – its dissolution. For these causes, I agree with those that keep that the present proposal to amend the Structure would speak in confidence to a plebiscitarian drift which within the investiture of the Head, of a single man (or a single lady) in command, betrays the favored sovereignty of the residents in whose title we wish to perform this reform.

And I due to this fact imagine that with this reform the Parliament, already dominated right this moment by the Authorities, would turn into hostage of just one particular person: the prime minister. This reform, due to this fact, not solely doesn’t resolve, however strengthens, for my part, a pathology of the system. I belief {that a} dialogue can develop on this proposal able to main us to determine a standard path to maintain collectively the strengthening of the steadiness of the chief with the strengthening of the parliamentary operate.

We must always all agree that this Chamber and that of Montecitorio are the pure locations to develop – in confrontation, even harsh, so long as it’s honest – the perfect public insurance policies for the entire nation. There are alternatives on the desk, largely among the many amendments introduced, I’m pondering of the problem of constructive no-confidence on the German mannequin. Nothing prevents us from with the ability to determine a shared reform textual content; a textual content which, due to the two-thirds majority of the parliamentarians’ vote, marks the start of a renewed capability for initiative by Parliament which is able to make this place the engine of a brand new season of reforms of our Republican establishments.