ROME. The race to the Colle to elect the thirteenth president in Republican history starts today at 3 pm. Election in full pandemic, which will force extraordinary security measures, including the construction of a drive-in seat in the Montecitorio car park. One call a day for 1008 voters (there will certainly be at least three absent due to Covid), until the name of the new head of state is pronounced. It starts with the senators (until 4.40 pm), then the deputies (until 7.23 pm), and finally the regional delegates. Scrutiny and counting will last approximately six hours.
The President of the Chamber, during the counting of the ballots for the election of the Head of State, will read only the surname of the person voted. He will read the name and surname only if both are shown in the form and the reading of the surname alone does not allow the univocal attribution of the vote.
For the first time in history, the Chamber of Deputies will be convened during the election phase of the President of the Republic for the proclamation of an incoming deputy: it will be a question of replacing Vincenzo Fasano, who died yesterday. Normally, during the election of the President of the Republic, the chambers of the Chamber and Senate are not convened. At 2 pm, the great electors of Coraggio Italia will gather in the presence of the Presidential Committee.
With the death of the Forza Italia deputy Enzo Fasano, he was one of the great electors
Mattarella towards the new home in Rome
In the meantime, the move of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, from his home in via Libertà in Palermo to the new rented house in Rome began this morning: for hours a moving company has been taking out of the apartment on the sixth floor of the Capo dello State sofas and some furniture that will be brought to Rome. The President, as we learn, will then follow the first ballots for his successor from home.
«It is evident that at the first, and probably, at the first votes, it will not be possible to elect a president – says Lucio Malan, while the meeting of the great electors of the Brothers of Italy is scheduled -. So it is likely that we go to the white card, we have this meeting to decide it ».
The rules of the game, this is how you vote for the President of the Republic
niccolò carratelli
The latest statements by the parties
Pierferdinando Casini, indicated among the possible candidates for the Quirinale, remembers that this is his seventh election of the President of the Republic, after Cossiga, Scalfaro, Ciampi, Napolitano-one, Napolitano-due and Mattarella: “To be witness to much of the life of our Repubblica, I already consider this a great privilege ». He underlines how “it is precisely in these moments that Parliament’s centrality is highlighted. And it is very nice to have the pride of being part of it, because it represents the national community ».
“With today’s vote for the Quirinale, a complex and ambitious game begins – declared the senator in a note Laura Garavini, deputy group leader Italy viva-PSI and vice president of the Foreign Affairs Commission -. As great voters we are called to find a successor who knows how to take up the legacy of Sergio Mattarella, in recent years the guarantor of the institutions even in the most difficult phases. And which ensures, at the same time, the stability and international authority necessary to complete the reconstruction process that the country has undertaken. Prime Minister Draghi sums up these characteristics in himself and can be the best interlocutor, both for the continuation of his current office and for the Presidency of the Republic “. The shared objective, in not sharing the names, is the stability of the country, also for the actual realization of the works of the NRP.
The summit of center-left leaders is underway in Montecitorio: Giuseppe Conte (M5S), the secretary of the Democratic Party, Enrico Letta, and the leader of Leu, Roberto Speranza, with their respective delegations participate.
“We – confirms the president of the M5s, Giuseppe Conte – we do not veto anyone, we have raised the bar, we want a high profile personality compatible with the values of the Movement ». «Our first objective – he continues – is not a legislative pact; for us this formula does not exist. I do not like. The parliamentarians of the Movement do not want to last until the end of the legislature. We want a pact for the citizens ».
“Today – the national coordinator of Forza Italia declares, Antonio Tajani, arriving at Montecitorio – national unity is needed, and Mario Draghi is the best guarantor of national unity. It is not a personal matter, but of the country’s interest. Unity of government is needed, and this executive needs to reach the end of the legislature: there are still things to do, the battle against the coronavirus is not yet won “.
“Whatever happens – reiterates the president of the Brothers of Italy, Giorgia Meloni -, we will support the return to the polls also because the mandate of Draghi, in our opinion, is linked to that of Sergio Mattarella. We are aiming for a government that has a cohesive program and a clear popular mandate ”.
*** Continuously updated article