The Democratic Party, under the leadership of Elly Schlein, is experiencing heated debates over the concept of a third mandate. The faction in favor of the third mandate comprises several mayors and governors, while numerous parliamentarians have allied with the opposition. Matteo Ricci, the mayor of Pesaro and a member of the working group on local authority reform, expresses confidence that the Democratic Party will eventually approve the third mandate. He reveals that a meeting to discuss the matter is imminent, though the exact time is yet to be determined.
Party sources confirm that the meeting is yet to occur, but arrangements for its time and format are underway. A palpable tension exists between parliamentarians and administrators, evident in the harsh words of Stefano Bonaccini, the president of Emilia-Romagna and the Democratic Party, towards his colleagues. Bonaccini criticizes some parliamentarians for their proposal to question the direct elections of mayors, a move he believes will not sit well with citizens.
Schlein’s decision to delegate the decision to an equal working group receives favorable reception. Furthermore, Schlein’s assertion that the current electoral law will remain in place for the next parliamentary elections is also appreciated. Despite some administrators’ optimism about the third mandate’s eventual approval, there is considerable skepticism among Dem parliamentarians about the feasibility of voting on the measure in the Senate on Thursday. This hesitancy is due to both ideological disagreements and the possibility of the vote being delayed until next week as the majority seeks consensus on the amendment and related issues.
Once a solution is found, Democrats are hopeful that the League will withdraw the amendment. However, the intense back-and-forth within the government continues, with a majority meeting failing to reach a decision on the Northern League’s amendment. Despite this, comments from governor Massimiliano Fedriga suggesting that the issue be addressed post-European elections give Dem parliamentarians hope that the amendment will eventually be withdrawn. In the meantime, the ‘working group’ established yesterday is expected to meet and formulate a comprehensive reform of the Tuel, the local authorities consolidated law. The idea of voting on the League’s amendment is met with resistance among Dem parliamentarians, who view its inclusion in the election decree as fundamentally incorrect.
