The Italians voted in a referendum for a reduction in the number of seats in parliament. According to exit polls 70 percent support the plan; thus it will most likely be implemented.
Currently, the House of Representatives and the Senate have 630 and 315 seats respectively. With the change, those numbers will be reduced to 400 and 200 seats. That means that a third of parliamentarians have to leave. The law will take effect in the next election, in 2023.
The reform is an idea of the ruling party Five Star Movement. That party says that the reduction of the number of seats can save hundreds of millions of euros. Parliament’s work would also become more efficient.
On social media, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and former party leader Luigi di Maio speaks of a ‘historic result’. “We are going back to a normal parliament, with 345 seats and fewer privileges,” he writes.
Criticism
Critics say the law changes lower costs than the Five Star Movement claims. Opponents also believe that the work of parliamentarians is hampered in this way and democracy is weakened.
The plebiscite is binding because parliament already voted last autumn for the amendment of the law. In the first instance, the referendum was to be held earlier this year, but because of the corona pandemic, it was postponed.
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