Politics
Italy: Berlusconi wants direct election for premier
Rome, 4 Nov. (AKI) - Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Wednesday the premier should be directly elected by the people and that parliament will in coming months amend the current electoral law. "It will be up to the parliament in the next few months to define which is the most suitable model for Italy," Berlusconi said.
"What counts is that the person who holds the executive power gets elected directly by the people. And with him, the type of government," Berlusconi told journalist Bruno Vespa in the book Donne di Cuore or Women of Hearts, to be released on Friday.
Between 1993 and 1995, changes were made by national legislation and popular referenda.
After the changes, on the national level the chamber of deputies and the senate were elected by a combination of proportionality and plurality.
This method lasted until a new electoral law was passed in late 2005 by the previous Berlusconi government, who overturned this system by restoring full proportional representation with bonus seats in the lower house of parliament allocated to the winning coalition.
During the last general elections in 2005, Italians voted for the party, whose leader then became the prime minister.
When asked if fiscal federalism would hurt the country's health expenditures, Berlusconi claimed it would make the country more efficient.
"On the contrary, if they do not show efficiency, they will not have the resources: This is why federalism is everyone's responsibility and will improve efficiency in the entire country," he said.
Fiscal federalism would devolve an amount of financial resources to the country’s provinces and municipalities.
Berlusconi also said attacks on him by the international press did not weaken him and said that he receives compliments by international leaders.
"To be honest, other international leaders that meet me praise me," said Berlusconi.
"None of us - international leaders tell me - would have been able to resist one-third of the attacks that have been waged against you," said the premier.
In regard to diplomatic relations with the United States, Berlusconi said that US president Barack Obama has repeatedly praised him.
"Our government is considered a strong, safe and loyal ally in the eyes of the American administration. President Obama has repeatedly praised my strong leadership. When it comes to the leaders of European countries, I am friends with all of them," he said.
"If Italy has once again found prestige and authority on the international stage, it is because of our government and and my way of cultivating international relations," said the premier.
The premier also dismissed claims that the US government was bothered by Italy's close relationship with Libya and Russia, calling these "political fiction".
"What counts is that the person who holds the executive power gets elected directly by the people. And with him, the type of government," Berlusconi told journalist Bruno Vespa in the book Donne di Cuore or Women of Hearts, to be released on Friday.
Between 1993 and 1995, changes were made by national legislation and popular referenda.
After the changes, on the national level the chamber of deputies and the senate were elected by a combination of proportionality and plurality.
This method lasted until a new electoral law was passed in late 2005 by the previous Berlusconi government, who overturned this system by restoring full proportional representation with bonus seats in the lower house of parliament allocated to the winning coalition.
During the last general elections in 2005, Italians voted for the party, whose leader then became the prime minister.
When asked if fiscal federalism would hurt the country's health expenditures, Berlusconi claimed it would make the country more efficient.
"On the contrary, if they do not show efficiency, they will not have the resources: This is why federalism is everyone's responsibility and will improve efficiency in the entire country," he said.
Fiscal federalism would devolve an amount of financial resources to the country’s provinces and municipalities.
Berlusconi also said attacks on him by the international press did not weaken him and said that he receives compliments by international leaders.
"To be honest, other international leaders that meet me praise me," said Berlusconi.
"None of us - international leaders tell me - would have been able to resist one-third of the attacks that have been waged against you," said the premier.
In regard to diplomatic relations with the United States, Berlusconi said that US president Barack Obama has repeatedly praised him.
"Our government is considered a strong, safe and loyal ally in the eyes of the American administration. President Obama has repeatedly praised my strong leadership. When it comes to the leaders of European countries, I am friends with all of them," he said.
"If Italy has once again found prestige and authority on the international stage, it is because of our government and and my way of cultivating international relations," said the premier.
The premier also dismissed claims that the US government was bothered by Italy's close relationship with Libya and Russia, calling these "political fiction".
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