Italy's Lower House passes final version of constitutional reform

The Italian lower house on Monday approved the final version of a constitutional draft law that would deeply reshape the country's profile, and is due to be submitted to a referendum in late 2016.

Deputies voted 367 to 194 in favor of the package, which the government had first presented in May 2014.

Italy's center-left cabinet strongly sponsored the constitutional draft bill, and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi recently stated his own political career would depend on the future of what he called "the mother of all reforms."

If approved, the draft law would indeed change the Italian constitutional structure deeply, primarily by putting an end to the current "perfect bicameralism" system after more than six decades.

The senate would be demoted into an assembly in charge of regional affairs, and lose its equal law-making status with the lower house in an effort to streamline legislative proceedings.

It would also be stripped of its power to bring down the cabinet and vote on budget laws, but would retain its prerogatives on constitutional and electoral legislation, and European treaties.

Its seats would be cut to 100 from the current 315, and future senators selected among members of regional assemblies and mayors, according to the preferences expressed by citizens in local ballots.

Among other major changes, the reform would amend the rules for electing the president of the Italian Republic.

It would also alter the power balance between the state and local authorities, granting the central government more prerogatives in key sectors such as energy, major infrastructures, and transport routes.

The draft law has proved controversial. The cabinet said the reform would help Italy become more efficient and overcome its long-standing political instability, improving the country's overall governance.

Critics countered it would undermine Italy's democracy, by giving the government too much power at the expenses of parliament and local authorities.

The proposed reform is facing a complex approval process, as required for all laws aimed at amending Italy's constitution. As such, the vote on Monday was crucial but not the decisive one.

Each chamber in the parliament will have to examine the draft once more, but this second reading will only allow lawmakers to approve or reject the bill overall, with no more changes to its text.

This passage will likely take place in late January in the senate, and mid-April in the lower house, according to local media, and a final approval is expected despite opposition.

Then, the reform will need to be confirmed or rejected in the referendum, which might take place in October, according to the prime minister. Endit