In response to recent proposals for electoral law reform, the STATES GENERAL OF WOMEN , President and National Coordinator Dr. ISA MAGGI , have expressed a clear, firm, and constructive position in defense of democratic and gender representation. This article summarizes their recent press release of July 10 (Rome) and expresses heartfelt appreciation for their ongoing commitment.
Dissent against the elimination of preferences
The STATES GENERAL OF WOMEN expressed strong dissent against the idea of eliminating the preference system from the electoral law for parliamentary elections. This opposition is based on profound cultural, political, and practical reasons, starting from a fundamental principle: political representation is a fundamental pillar of democracy and must be strengthened, not weakened.
The Cultural and Political Reasons
Democratic tradition has always recognized the need for a harmonious balance between governability and representativeness. In this dynamic, preferences are the most direct, proven, and effective tool for restoring a real voice to citizens and society’s needs, avoiding excessive and suffocating intermediation by party leaders. In a historical era marked by a high and worrying rate of abstentionism—particularly among women, as demonstrated by the latest European elections, in which nearly six out of ten Italian women did not vote—it becomes urgent and essential to consider the tools capable of reconnecting citizens with institutions. Precisely on the 80th anniversary of the first vote by Italian women, when female turnout nearly 90%, this reflection takes on an extraordinarily important symbolic and practical significance.
Allowing voters to directly choose their representatives means:
- Encourage active participation and rebuild the bond of trust and ethics between elected officials and voters;
- Restore centrality to the territory and individual communities, enhancing the principle of subsidiarity;
- Bridging the gap between the city center and the suburbs, restoring dignity and value to local autonomy and encouraging dialogue between urban, suburban, and inland areas.
The reasons of gender
From the perspective of gender equality, the impact of such a reform would be particularly detrimental. Women politicians often build their consensus and recognition through channels other than those of party bureaucracies, actively working in their local communities, through associations, and within the professions.
Depriving the electorate of the ability to cast their votes risks concretely excluding the very women who are the most free, autonomous, and representative of real society. While acknowledging the potential risks associated with the preference system (such as clientelism, high campaign costs, and unequal access to resources), the association believes it is essential to maintain and refine ” corrective mechanisms ,” such as the dual gender preference, to rebalance a still highly unbalanced competition and ensure a female presence that is effective, not superficial. Eliminating preferences would ultimately entrust the selection of candidates exclusively to the narrow leadership of political parties, drastically reducing voters’ freedom of choice and weakening the constitutional autonomy of elected officials, in clear conflict with the principles enshrined in Article 67 of the Constitution.
Large colleges and pluralism
Following the reduction in the number of parliamentarians, constituencies have become extremely large. In this new configuration, preferences remain the only real tool capable of empowering citizens to actively participate in the selection of their representatives. In single-member constituencies, the size is such that it impedes a direct, human, and transparent relationship between candidate and voter. Furthermore, preferences foster healthy competition among candidates from the same party, increasing cultural and political pluralism within parties, a vital element for the health of democracy.
The Proposals of the GENERAL STATES OF WOMEN
The STATES GENERAL OF WOMEN put forward four concrete and constructive proposals to overcome the current stalemate and strengthen democratic institutions:
1)- Maintenance of preferences within the national electoral law;
2)- Introduction and strengthening of the dual gender preference as a mandatory structural corrective to ensure equal representation;
3)- Strict transparency rules on campaign costs and contributions received, to limit any potential clientelistic distortion;
4) Structural investments in training and the creation of support networks for female candidates, so that women have equal competitive opportunities.
” Democracy is strengthened when citizens feel part of the decision-making process. Women especially need tools that open up, not close. Preferences, with the necessary adjustments, are one of these tools.” – GENERAL STATES OF WOMEN
We wish to express our deepest thanks and sincere appreciation to the STATES GENERAL OF WOMEN for the clarity, passion, and timeliness of this intervention. Their constant work in democratic advocacy and their ability to translate demands for equality into concrete legislative proposals constitute an irreplaceable resource for civil society as a whole. In recalling the historic importance of universal women’s suffrage, their voice reminds us that democracy is not a static achievement, but a daily journey that requires vigilance, courage, and participation.
THANK YOU for your valuable and tireless work in defending the rights of all citizens!
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