The following article from Italy Magazine (www.italymag.co.uk) is a good roundup of the controversy around the ruling coalitions’s difficulties getting it’s candidates on the ballot in a few of the countries regional elections.
Italy’s electoral lists saga – a guide
Are you confused by recent events regarding the Regional elections in Italy? Here’s our guide:
What is an electoral list?
Since 2005 Italy has used a “party list” electoral system. This means that parties must submit lists of candidates prior to any elections and seats are allocated in proportion to the number of votes cast for each party.
When are the Regional elections in Italy?
Regional elections will take place in 13 regions on 28th – 29th March.
Why has Mr Berlusconi’s Party been barred from the election in Rome?
How did this happen?
A party worker, Alfredo Milioni, was entrusted with the task of submitting the list. He says that on 27th February he arrived at the electoral office in Rome at around 11.30 am. He at first said that, finding a long queue, he “popped out for a sandwich”. Later he said he had gone to check on his daughter, who was in his car. Later still he claimed that he went to fetch some important documents and finally that he was physically prevented from entering the building by opposition party members. There have also been suggestions that Mr Milioni was late because there was some last-minute arguing in the Party about candidates. Whatever happened, by the time Mr Milioni returned, at “about” 12.15, it was too late and he was told that the list could not be accepted.
What was Mr Berlusconi’s reaction?
As you can imagine, he was not, and is not, very happy. He claimed that opposition party workers had created some kind of distraction in the electoral office, causing Mr Milioni and other Pdl representatives to step back so that they were “1 centimetre” outside the premises at midday. Yesterday Mr Berlusconi accused “left-wing” magistrates of discriminating against his party.
Renata Polverini, Mr Berlusconi’s candidate for Governor of Lazio – the position formerly held by Piero Marrazzo – called upon President Napolitano to intervene.
The full text can be read here:
http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/lazio/italys-electoral-lists-saga-guide
