Italicum - what is all this about?

Can someone explain to me, please, what Renzi's electoral reform is proposing, why it's called Italicum and why it's currently so controversial?  I understand that it's got something to do with combining the issue with a vote of confidence and that's about it.

Its full title is 'Italicum Powder' and it's supposed to stop you sweating about the next Government.

Basically he is proposing a nominated non elected second chamber, and new rules on voting colleges for the 'commons'.  What he hasnt done is got rid of the 'closed lists' which have made many people unhappy including half of his own party, so its possible he will fall on a confidence vote and then we are all in the deep doodoo.   Its better than the present law, but not much, it could have been so much better.

modicasa wrote:Basically he is proposing a nominated non elected second chamber, and new rules on voting colleges for the 'commons'.  What he hasnt done is got rid of the 'closed lists' which have made many people unhappy including half of his own party, so its possible he will fall on a confidence vote and then we are all in the deep doodoo.   Its better than the present law, but not much, it could have been so much better.

Ok.  I have a better idea now, thanks.  Except what are 'closed lists'?

Instead of voting fir a candidate you wnd up voting for a list, ie a party.  They get say 5%of the vote which means they get the first 10 candidates on the list into parliament.  except that a closed list means a centrally prepared whereby a candidate can be in multiple lists, guaranteeing him a seat or can be parachuted into any seat  that takes the leaders fancy, a way of repaying debts, and favours, but not very democratic.

But pretty similar to the UK where the chosen candidate is picked by the party HQ I suppose.

BTW nice one Flip!

true but at least the voters can choose who represents them

Hmm. The case for reform is clearly a strong one but seemingly fudged in typical Italian fashion.  O tempora, o mores...

I would hazard a guess thought that at least 75% or more Voters always vote for a Party not an individual, hence the success of the '5Star' vote last time, so reform would be best focused on reducing the number of Representatives and trimming the fat on the most over subscribed (people per representative) system in the World.