Fewer stakes in the applications. So, hopefully, more democracy within the Federations, which for decades have been in the hands of the usual presidents, who will still be able to stand again but at least will have to sweat out their re-election. The Coni of Giovanni Malagò is ready to approve the new “fundamental principles” of Italian sport, which will also regulate the next electoral round, scheduled after the Olympics in Paris 2024. The document will be approved during the next meeting Coni arrived. The need for a review arises precisely from the coup of the sports presidents: in July, with an authentic parliamentary blitzthe Federation caste had managed to drop the famous limit of three terms which would have forced most of the incumbent executives to step aside. It was therefore necessary to review the statutes, and on this occasion the the servant of Abod he had promised a reform of the rules of engagement, to compensate for the gift he had just given to the presidents and give more space to the opposition.
In the new principles, in fact, re-election beyond the third term, with the majority, is included strengthened by 66%, as required by law. It is specified that the quorum must be calculated on the number of votes validly cast, including blank ballots (no counting tricks, therefore). The main innovation concerns the easing of the requirements for candidacies: until now challenging the system was very difficult, almost impossible in some cases due to the many stakes and the power all in the hands of those who govern. Now a clear and equal mechanism is established for everyone, with a number of signatures to be collected proportional to the total number of affiliates. Furthermore, the obligation of support by a minimum number of people no longer applies Regions.
This could have consequences on the presidential race of some of the most important Federations. In the tennisfor example, the new principles will not affect the number of subscriptions (the federal statute already provided for a lower number, equal to 300 circles), but without territorial constraints it will be easier for the opposition to challenge n.1 Angelo Binaghi: as anticipated in recent days, Barazzutti will certainly be there and maybe also Flavia Pennetta. With the advantage that, if the outgoing president does not reach 66%, the elections are re-run with two candidates, but with three candidates the last two go to the run-off regardless of the percentages obtained.
The other most awaited Federation is football. Today in Figc you can apply with the support of a member: Gravina, who is aiming straight for a third term, controls players, coaches, Serie C and amateurs; risks seeing an opponent appear in Serie A (where Lotito reiterated that he has the majority) or even among the referees, a real powder keg today led by Peaceful (close to the federal president) but tomorrow who knows (even the rehabilitated Trentalange could return). It is no coincidence that the football no. 1 would have liked CONI to remove the whistles from the electoral dispute. Perhaps by overcoming the component mechanism, which in theory could generate as many as seven different candidates, but with a much higher number of signatures given the specificity of the FIGC which counts almost 12mila società . This will not be the case: FederCalcio remains with the current mechanism, the new one will only apply to the Federations that did not already have a less stringent one. Instead, the powerful Amateur League will have to change, where the candidacies were linked to the regional committees, and this could call into question the seat of Giancarlo Abete (Gravina’s precious ally).
On the input of Minister Abodi, the impression is that even Malagò – the only one left off the re-election bandwagon, given that the limit of three mandates remains for CONI – wanted to make life more difficult for his federal president friends, who had dumped him in the summer and obtained the exemption only for themselves. Thus the next elections in Italian sport could be less predictable than expected.