#ElezioniPolitiche2022 #italyelection to understand the results, here is a🧵on the electoral system. The radical right is performing well not because of PR but due to first-past-the-post. #ElectoralSystem
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1/19
Italy has a system of #perfectbicameralism Senate and Chamber are equal. A gov needs the confidence of both chambers; legislation needs approval of both. Gov may also be no-confidenced by just one of the two chambers, a rule that adds to government instability in Italy.
2/19
2/19
The Chamber has 400 members, 147 elected by first-past-the-post (#FPTP) in single member constituencies, and 245 elected by proportionality across the country.
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3/19
This leaves 8 further members elected by Italians abroad – 3 in Europe, 2 in South America, 2 in North America, and 1 in the rest of the world.
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4/19
The micro-region of Valle d’Aosta elects just one member through FPTP, with no vote for proportionality.
5/19
5/19
The 245 proportionally-elected members are elected on the basis of party performance without regard for the FPTP members. They are not top-ups as they would be in Germany, New Zealand or Scotland. Italy's system is called Mixed Member Majoritarian (#MMM).
6/19
6/19
An elector votes for a FPTP candidate and indicates one of the parties that support that candidate as the destination for the elector’s proportional vote.
7/19
7/19
There is no right to vote for a FPTP candidate (for example tactically) while voting for a party list that is not supporting that candidate. This means that a PR vote for Azione or M5S, along with a tactical vote for a FPTP PD candidate is impossible.
8/19
8/19
This image illustrates a ballot paper. Some FPTP candidates are supported by only one party list for the proportional ballot, others on the right are supported by several parties that have formed an alliance.
9/19
9/19
For the proportional vote, all of Italy minus Valle d’Aosta is treated like a single constituency of 245 members. The largest remainder system of proportionality is used, with following #thresholds to get elected:
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10/19
3% of the vote nationally for a single party; or
1% of the vote nationally if the party is within an alliance at constituency level that achieves at least 10% of the votes nationally, or within a particular region and limited to that region of 20% of the votes...
11/19
1% of the vote nationally if the party is within an alliance at constituency level that achieves at least 10% of the votes nationally, or within a particular region and limited to that region of 20% of the votes...
11/19
To be valid at least one of the parties within the alliance must reach at least 3% of the votes nationally or regionally.
Now the Senate:
12/19
Now the Senate:
12/19
The Senate has 206 members. 5 of them are appointed for life, plus all former Presidents of the Republic, of which only one (Giorgio Napolitano) is currently serving.
200 are elected.
13/19
200 are elected.
13/19
4 Senators are elected by Italians abroad by FPTP, 1 each in Europe, South America, North America, and rest of world.
Without right to choose proportionally elected Senators, FPTP applies to 1 seat in Valle d’Aosta, 2 in Molise, and 6 in Trentino-South Tyrol.
14/19
Without right to choose proportionally elected Senators, FPTP applies to 1 seat in Valle d’Aosta, 2 in Molise, and 6 in Trentino-South Tyrol.
14/19
66 FPTP Senators are then divided between Italy’s 17 other regions.
The MMM system is for the 17 regions the same as applies for the Chamber, but the attribution of the 117 proportionally-elected Senators is done at regional rather than national level...
15/19
The MMM system is for the 17 regions the same as applies for the Chamber, but the attribution of the 117 proportionally-elected Senators is done at regional rather than national level...
15/19
This respects the constitutional rule of the Senate representing the regions but reduces proportionality as proportional regional constituencies are much smaller than the 245-member constituency for the Chamber. The Senate is also half the size. #districtmagnitude
16/19
16/19
The minimum #thresholds for election to the Senate are the same as for the Chamber.
Let’s take the example of #Tuscany to illustrate Senate representation.
17/19
Let’s take the example of #Tuscany to illustrate Senate representation.
17/19
There are 4 FPTP constituencies: Florence, Arezzo, Leghorn, and Prato. (Don’t ask which consituencies swallowed up Siena, Pisa, or Lucca!)
8 Senators are elected proportionately, on basis of prefs indicated by voters for parties when selecting one of the FPTP candidates.
18/19
8 Senators are elected proportionately, on basis of prefs indicated by voters for parties when selecting one of the FPTP candidates.
18/19
The degree of proportionality in a constituency of 8 Senators will be significantly less than in the case of the 245-member national constituency for the Chamber.
I therefore expect smaller parties to perform much less well in the Senate election.
19/19
I therefore expect smaller parties to perform much less well in the Senate election.
19/19
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