Political leaders are looking for a person who could be a candidate for head of state for both right and left. The election is solemnly staged, the trappings sometimes seem comical.
Mario Draghi is the preferred candidate for the Quirinal for some.
Many “grandi elettori” will come up empty handed in the first round of the Italian presidential election. The party leaders of the left-wing parties were the first to issue this slogan, and the right-wing is expected to follow, at least in part. Only two candidacies were registered on Monday. Two small center parties are porting Justice Minister Marta Cartabia, while the far-right Fratelli d’Italia is porting former public prosecutor Carlo Nordio. As things stand now, neither of them stand a chance.
In this case, idling is more positive than negative. There is a pause for thought. With the empty ballot papers, the parties are signaling their willingness not to push their own candidatures, but at least to examine those from other political camps. At best, one can agree on a person who is agreeable to both the right and the left. Negotiations are now going on behind the scenes.
Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s candidacy has blocked any political movement. He allowed himself to be ported by the right-wing parties as a common right-wing candidate. Berlusconi’s allies were by no means convinced of his candidacy. For their part, the parties on the left clearly rejected Berlusconi. In this constellation, constructive negotiations about other candidacies were hopeless from the outset. Now, after Berlusconi’s withdrawal, they are gaining momentum.
You can feel the serious effort. Political leaders seem to realize they have an important job to do, and they don’t want to look too bad about it, especially as the presidential election in Rome is gaining international attention. Before that, however, things on the political stage were at times like a Goldoni farce. Leading and supporting characters stepped up and down, doors slammed, there was whispering behind the scenes, journalists pricked up their ears and pens. Lots of directors, lots of theatrical thunder and no plan.
The presidential elections in the Palazzo Montecitorio in Rome begin at 3 p.m. on Monday. 1009 “grandi elettori” will cast their votes in alphabetical order, first 321 senators, then 630 MPs, finally 58 representatives of the regions. Voting takes place secretly in voting booths designed to meet Corona requirements. Frequent disinfection is intended to prevent transmission of the virus. At the end of the voting, all votes are read out one by one.
With this method, each ballot takes several hours, and only one ballot is scheduled per day. In the first three ballots, a two-thirds majority is required, i.e. at least 673 votes. It is considered unlikely that the election will be decided at this stage. From the fourth ballot, i.e. from Thursday, all you need is an absolute majority of at least 505 votes. An election could take place that day, but it will probably take longer. The new president must be determined by February 2nd at the latest because Mattarella’s term of office expires the day after.
A few dozen “grandi elettori” have contracted Corona or are in quarantine. So that they can still take part in the presidential election, a “drive-in” polling station will be set up in the Chamber of Deputies car park. With a special permit, they can drive to Rome in their own car or with an ambulance, continue their quarantine there and cast their ballot through the car window that is only slightly open.
His closest confidants were able to talk him out of his candidacy. He had to realize that he had no chance. In a letter spoke Berlusconi of “national responsibility” and claims that he certainly got the necessary votes for the election. Berlusconi, 85, embodies the type who is completely out of place in the highest office: the shady profiteer, the corrupt libertine, the unscrupulous Mafia ally. Italy deserves better.
Former Italian President Sergio Mattarella is being pressured from many quarters to remain in office for a few more years, but he doesn’t want to, he has made that clear over and over again. He recently announced that he was clearing his office in the Quirinal Palace. He follows the election of his successor from Palermo, far away from the political scene.
Mario Draghi is the preferred candidate for some. The argument goes that he could be useful to the country for another seven years as president, but only for one year as head of government. Others, however, believe he should remain in place and push ahead with the implementation of the EU’s recovery plan and associated reforms. Draghi himself keeps a low profile. He recently described himself as the “grandfather of institutions,” seeming to imply that the presidency might appeal to him.
If Draghi changes office, a new prime minister must be appointed. That is why there is now not only gambling for the office of President, but also for that of Prime Minister and also for the entire government. Leading politicians are pushing for the levers of power, they no longer want to remain just spectators in a “technical” cabinet. The grand coalition does not appear to be endangered at the moment, but that could change quickly. An early parliamentary election cannot be ruled out.
Berlusconi dominated the headlines with his candidacy. It was precisely with his unpredictability that he had his right-wing allies under control. Matteo Salvini (Lega) and Giorgia Meloni (Fratelli d’Italia) had to support him, at least superficially, to prevent him from colluding with the left. Now the three want to push through another right-wing candidate. Who that should be is still open. A compromise with the left is no longer out of the question.
In principle, the left camp is numerically as strong as the right, but it is weak. The Social Democrats under Enrico Letta cannot do much on their own, they depend on Giuseppe Conte’s Cinque Stelle as a partner. These are divided, but still make up the largest group in Parliament. In the end, the voices of small parties like Italia Viva could Matteo Renzi as well as those of non-attached people.
The office of President of Italy has grown in importance over the past twenty years. If parliament and government – and in the background the parties – proved unable to act at times, it was up to the head of state to overcome this state of affairs. The Constitution gives the Italian President the necessary powers. He chooses the head of government, he appoints the ministers, he can dissolve parliament. He does not have the same extensive powers as the French President, but more than, for example, the German Federal President.
More often. Above all, the outgoing President Mattarella and his predecessor Giorgio Napolitano have changed governments. Napolitano replaced Berlusconi with Mario Monti, Mattarella replaced Conte with Draghi. In both cases the establishment of a “technical” government was a highly political process. The two newly installed heads of government were not legitimized by popular elections, only by the decision of the President and Parliament. In return, they enjoyed the trust of international institutions and the financial markets. This also gave them respect and support in the Italian public.
The Italian President has his official residence in Quirinale Palace above the Fontana di Trevi, with a magnificent view over the city. The extensive complex of 11 hectares has several state rooms and a beautiful garden, which is rarely open to the public. This used to be the residence of the popes, from 1870 that of the Italian kings. After the Second World War, since 1946, the Italian Republic has furnished itself in the extremely courtly ambience with lots of gold and art.
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