MNI BRIEF: Italy PM In Push For Further Constitutional Reform

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni announced Friday plans for a constitutional reform that could shift the political system away from parliamentarism to a more presidential style, with the head of government chosen directly by voters.

The draft legal text -- which has been discussed with opposition parties -- removes power from the head of state the power to appoint prime ministerial candidates and looks for a mechanism to give stability to incumbent governments, as it would give the winner a 'majority bonus', Meloni said in a press conference.

“It will be the end of technocratic governments,” she said, adding that the new system would set a limit of two prime ministers per term, with the obligation that would bring to be on lawmakers and not outside figures. Any constitutional reform in Italy needs the support of two thirds of parliamentarians to avoid a referendum. Meloni was confident of getting the needed support and called the reform “the mother of all reforms in Italy” as she blamed the shorter life of Italian governments for lagging behind European peers in recent decades.