Rete is once again taking aim at the reform of the Council’s Rules of Procedure (Regolamento consiliare), which has reached the floor of the Council for its second reading. The movement’s main target remains the so-called “guillotine” clause—a mechanism that would allow, after a set period of time, discussion on articles to be closed and any amendments not yet examined to be bundled into a single vote.
“The amended text of the Council’s Rules of Procedure that has reached the floor for a second reading contains a passage that amounts to a genuine assault on parliamentary democracy,” says the group leader of Rete. According to the movement, the revision work carried out by the majority is still not enough to fully safeguard the prerogatives of councillors.
Rete does acknowledge, however, the steps back taken from the original version of the draft. “The most odious rules have been removed from the original legislative framework—those that cut speaking times and even went so far as to introduce a preliminary screening of amendments,” the statement reads. What remains to be eliminated, though, is what the movement calls “the disgrace of the so-called guillotine.”
“In other words, for misguided reasons of efficiency, debate is being ‘cut short,’ drastically limiting a democratic tool available to the opposition—whoever it may be—and, at times, even to the majority, which, once the imposed time runs out, would be deprived of the political space needed for any kind of contribution,” Rete states.
The movement also stresses that the use of this tool could have consequences for the very forces that make up today’s majority. “Today this shortcut may seem convenient to those in power, but in politics, sooner or later, everyone ends up in opposition. Limiting the democratic prerogatives of parliamentary debate is, in our view, a serious mistake.”
According to Rete, extending the length of debate is one of the tools available to opposition forces to compel governments and majorities into genuine dialogue. “On several occasions over the years, it was precisely the opposition’s work—through debate and the presentation of amendments—that uncovered hidden truths, brought critical issues to light, and exposed overreach and decisions that needed to be stopped or radically corrected.”
Among its examples, the movement cites the debates on the Finance Bills (Leggi finanziarie), on the Des, and on the affair involving financier Francesco Confuorti. “The fact that some gag-like provisions have been removed from the text gives us no reassurance at all, unless the circle is closed by also eliminating this shameful ‘guillotine’ from the framework,” the statement continues.
“Before introducing into the Rules of Procedure a tool that prevents debate and limits democratic dialogue, careful thought must be given to the matter. Debate is not wasted time. You cannot put a timer on democracy, or risk causing serious upheaval within the system of democratic safeguards,” Rete concludes, announcing that it will continue to challenge the measure on the floor of the Council and expressing hope that members of the majority will also speak out.
