A legislative change surprisingly approved by the centre-right majority led by President Roberto Occhiuto has reignited the political confrontation in Calabria. During the last Regional Council, the majority presented and approved with a rapid procedure a bill that eliminates the possibility for Calabrian citizens to express themselves through a confirmatory referendum on future changes to the Regional Statute, the “constitutional charter” of the Region.
The contested change: “This is how the people are excluded”
The law, according to what emerged from the debate, would allow the majority to make changes to the Statute without going through popular consultation. A change which, for the opposition, opens up worrying scenarios.
Among the examples cited by the Democratic Party group, the possibility that decisions of symbolic and institutional importance – such as moving the seat of the Regional Council from Reggio Calabria to another city – can be taken through a simple ordinary law, approved by majority.
The same goes for any changes to the number of signatures required to present popular initiative legislative proposals: currently set at 5,000, they could be increased, making the direct exercise of civic participation more complex.
The action of the minority: letter to Minister Calderoli
Believing the law to be in conflict with democratic and participatory principles, the Democratic Party group sent a letter to the Minister for Regional Affairs and Autonomy, Roberto Calderoli, asking for direct intervention from the Government. The request is to challenge the law before the Constitutional Court.
The minority, the PD reports, proved to be united: all the councilors of the opposition political forces signed the letter, taking a common position against the majority’s initiative.
Growing abstentionism and risk of further distance between institutions and citizens
In a context in which abstentionism reaches increasingly high levels – both in Calabria and in the regions that recently went to the vote – the opposition accuses the majority of fueling a further separation between citizens and institutions.
According to the PD councillors, instead of encouraging participation and encouraging dialogue between the people and the administration, the decision would end up “mortifying” regional democracy and reducing the space for direct intervention by citizens.
A political and institutional battle destined to continue
The comparison now moves to the national level. If the Government were to accept the opposition’s request, the issue could come before the Council for a check on its constitutional legitimacy.
In the meantime, a season of strong political conflict is looming in the Regional Council, with the minority intending to oppose the reform “with all the tools available” and the majority determined to carry forward its institutional reorganization initiatives.