Italian legal scholars are raising the alarm over the actions of the Meloni government in Italy, warning that the country’s democracy may be at risk. The government’s proposed constitutional amendment could drastically reduce the powers of the president in favor of giving more power to the prime minister. This has raised concerns among legal scholars and political scientists who fear that such changes could limit the president’s ability to provide stability and market confidence during times of crisis.
The debate over presidential powers is not limited to Italy, as it is also happening in Finland. There are calls for a transfer of foreign and security policy powers from the president to the government led by the prime minister. In Italy, however, the president holds significant authority, including dissolving parliament and government at any time. The current president, Sergio Mattarella, has used his powers sparingly, but concerns have been raised about potential changes proposed by far-right prime minister Giorgia Meloni.
Meloni’s proposed constitutional amendment would give more power to the prime minister who would be elected through popular vote while reducing significantly the powers of president. Legal scholars and political scientists worry that such changes could limit President Mattarella’s ability to provide stability and market confidence during times of crisis. Critics argue that Meloni has ties with neo-fascist groups in Italy which raises further concerns about where Italy may be headed politically.
Experts have compared Italy’s current trajectory to that of countries like Hungary and Poland where democracy has been eroded by right-wing populism. As a result, there is growing concern among legal scholars and political observers about what these actions mean for Italy’s democratic institutions.
Italy’s future democracy remains uncertain as debates over constitutional changes continue to unfold with legal scholars and political observers closely watching every move made by Prime Minister Meloni’s government.
