The « premierato » constitutional reform: direct election of the Prime Minister

Strengthen the stability of governments so that medium- and long-term policies can be carried out; consolidate the democratic principle by giving voters a role in setting the nation’s political direction; foster the cohesion of electoral coalitions; prevent parliamentarians from switching sides (« transfughismo » and « trasformismo »).[5]

According to the government (Council of Ministers communiqué no. 57 of 3 November 2023)

• Term of office of the directly elected Prime Minister

  5 years

  per legislature · according to the new article 92 in the text approved by the Senate[1]

  No more than two consecutive legislatures, raised to three if the person held office for less than seven years and six months in the previous ones.

• Direct election of the President of the Council of Ministers by universal suffrage for five years, held at the same time as the election of both chambers; the Prime Minister is elected in the chamber where they stood as a candidate, so must be a member of Parliament (new art. 92).[1][3]
• The electoral law must award a nationwide bonus guaranteeing a majority of seats in each chamber to the lists and candidates linked to the Prime Minister, respecting representativeness and the protection of linguistic minorities. The Constitution would not set the size of the bonus: the original bill’s 55% of seats was dropped in the Senate, and the dossier of the Chamber’s research service notes that the wording « a majority » might not guarantee an absolute majority.[1][3][5]
• The President of the Republic gives the elected Prime Minister the task of forming the government and appoints and dismisses ministers on their proposal. The government must still win the confidence of both chambers within ten days; if it fails, the task is renewed once, and a second failure leads to dissolution.[1]
• If confidence is withdrawn by a reasoned motion, the elected Prime Minister resigns and the chambers are dissolved. In other cases of resignation, the Prime Minister may, within seven days, ask for dissolution; otherwise — and in case of death, permanent impediment or loss of office — the President of the Republic may, only once per legislature, entrust the government to the outgoing Prime Minister or to a member of Parliament elected in connection with them (new art. 94).[1]
• End of the President of the Republic’s power to appoint senators for life (art. 59, second paragraph, repealed); those already appointed stay in office, and former Presidents of the Republic remain senators by right.[1][3]
• Other changes to the head of State’s role: the President of the Republic would be elected by absolute majority only after the sixth ballot (instead of the third); during the last six months of their term they could dissolve the chambers only when dissolution is mandatory; the appointment of the Prime Minister, of Constitutional Court judges, pardons, the calling of elections and referendums, messages to the chambers and the return of laws would no longer need ministerial countersignature.[1]
• Entry into application: from the first dissolution or end of the chambers following the entry into force of the new law on the election of the Prime Minister and of the chambers.[1]