Concerns about premiership reform in EC rule-of-law report

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 24 - Concerns about the possible impact of Premier Giorgio Meloni's government's draft reform to introduce the direction election of the prime minister were mentioned in the Italy chapter on the European Commission's 2024 Rule of Law report on Wednesday.
    It pointed out that, in the case of a government crisis, "with this reform, it would no longer be possible for the President of the Republic to find an alternative majority and/or to appoint a person outside Parliament as Prime Minister.
    "Some stakeholders expressed concerns at the proposed changes to the current system of institutional checks-and-balances, as well as doubts that as to whether it would bring more stability," it added.
    Under the current system in Italy, parties engage in government-formation talks after a general election and then the coalition that forms a ruling majority in parliament agrees on a figure to propose to the President of the Republic to become premier.
    That figure is not necessarily one of the politicians given by the parties as their premier candidate during the election campaign.
    Meloni says the proposed reform to let Italians choose their premiers directly will lead to stronger and more stable governments in a country which has long been dogged by unstable revolving door administrations.
    Meloni has described the plan as the "mother of all reforms".
    (ANSA).