Chronicle of a death foretold

With a tripolar party system, the ballot has reproduced a highly fragmented situation.

13/03/2018

The Italian political deadlock comes as no surprise. With a tripolar party system and a non-majoritarian electoral law, the ballot has reproduced a highly fragmented – and divisive – situation. With the leadership factor as both an obstacle and an ultimate solution.

 

The results of the Italian national elections force the political system into a deadlock from which there is no easy way out. Two winners – the League on the extreme right and the Fivestars Movement – have made the headlines for Italy being stormed by the populist wave. With the governing party, the Pd, loosing almost a third of its electorate – and the executive office. However, neither of the two winners has a majority in Parliament, and they could hardly get together to form one, as they represent two very different strands of populist ideology. While the Democratic party has no interest in offering its votes to back the forming of a government where it would have little if any voice.

The programs of the League and the Fivestars reflect the anti-establishment mood on the rise in Western democracies

Yet, this critical situation comes as no surprise in consideration of three constraining factors. First, the electoral law – a mixed one with 37 percent of the seats allocated via the first-past-the-post system (directly elected), and 64 percent proportionally (indirectly elected based on lists). Second, a tripolar party system which, in the absence of a majoritarian filter, couldn’t but reproduce the fragmentation of three quite different and incompatible political actors. Which is, last not least, the main obstacle today to the formation of a parliamentary majority. The programs of the League and the Fivestars reflect the anti-establishment mood on the rise in Western democracies, with a number of provisions which can easily capture the attention – and the vote – of a protest prone electorate. But are much harder to be translated into effective governmental policies.

The President of the Republic is trying to use his «moral suasion» power to push all three main contenders towards more flexible positions. An unlikely outcome, in light of the leadership factor. In a political scene dominated by highly personalized communication, the success of both the League and the Fivestars is largely dependent on the charisma of their young leaders. Both Matteo Salvini and Luigi Di Maio cannot yield to a compromise executive with the Pd – even less with each other. They need the Premiership to hold on to their visibility as well as to keep a tight control over their own party. The Democratic party is – not surprisingly – in disarray, with the resignation of Matteo Renzi opening a long and winding road for the choice of a new secretary.

There is little hope that a solution to this impasse may be found in a short time. For the next few months, it is more likely that the Spanish path will be followed, with the Gentiloni executive remaining in office until all political actors become aware that, in a democratic polity, words need – sooner or later – be matched by facts. A lesson which may also count for their electors, should they be called to cast their vote again.

Photo: Stefano Zaccaria / Shutterstock.com

Find all related publications
Publications
26/09/2023

‘Abortion in the EU’ – Country fact sheets

Multispeed access to abortion across member states
26/09/2023

Abortion in the European Union

Actors, issues and discourse
21/09/2023

A European Health Union

A blueprint for generations
18/09/2023

Making trade work for prosperity, people and planet

FEPS Primers series - Arancha González and Yanis Bourgeois
Find all related news
News
20/09/2023

FEPS is recruiting 1 project officer

Notice of vacancy
14/09/2023

FEPS President at the SDG Summit and United Nations General Assembly in New York

FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues is in New York this week on the occasion of […]
14/09/2023

Call for tender – Researcher on inflation

Basic Information Project    The profits-prices spiral: measures to avoid inflation  Partners   TASC (Ireland), Pietro Nenni Foundation (Italy)  […]
12/09/2023

Call for tender – Research and analysis for the project “Progressive paths to rebuild Ukraine”

Basic Information Project Research “In search of a ‘lost generation’. Harnessing youth potential for post-war […]
Find all related in the media
In the media

NATO Deputy Secretary General Geoană: “Democracies should stand united to defend the multilateral global order”

by ReportDifesa.it 25/09/2023
Mircea Geoană, NATO Deputy Sec Gen, took part to FEPS' Annual Autumn Academy 2023 in a session devoted to “Building a sustainable and multilateral global order”

‘SDG funding gap swells to $137trn’ New Policy Study from FEPS, together with Earth4All, to deliver a five-point plan for the SDGs.

by Edie 19/09/2023
The “SDGs for All” report emphasises that policymakers have the potential to significantly advance SDG implementation by the original 2030 deadline and beyond by enacting five “extraordinary turnarounds” that break away from current trends.

“Trade doesn’t work in isolation from good domestic policies” Interview to Arancha González

by Borderlex 19/09/2023
Interview to Arancha González, former Spanish foreign minister, who released together with FEPS the new book entitled 'The Trade Handbook: Making Trade Work for Prosperity, People and Planet'

AI to ‘determine course of global trade, jobs’ in near future

by The Financial Express 14/09/2023
The Financial Express's article focuses on the publication of FEPS Primer on Trade written by Arancha González Laya and Yanis Bourgeois