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Il Referendum: come funziona? Posted by on Jun 26, 2011 in Culture

Firstly, I’d like to thank all of the readers who added their positive, supportive comments to my blog “Il Referendum”. It’s very encouraging to see how many people appreciate what an important democratic outcome the referendum had for us Italians. When I wrote my first blog about the referendum I had a feeling that people not familiar with Italian politics and bureaucracy would find it difficult to understand how it actually works (come funziona), hence this second blog.

Allora, why do we have to vote (YES) if we are against something? The first reason lies in the Italian Constitution, which states that “il referendum può essere solo abrogativo” (the referendum can only repeal a law). Therefore, if we are against a law introduced by the government we have to vote “SÌ” all’abrogazione della legge (“YES” to the revocation of the law). On the other hand, if we want to save a law we must vote “NO” all’abrogazione della legge (“NO” to the revocation of the law). For example, in 1974 Italians were asked if they wanted to reject a recently introduced law which legalized divorce. In this case the majority of people said “NO”, which meant that they agreed that divorce should be legal and that they wanted the law to be maintained.

The second reason that makes the Italian referendum system complicated is the manner in which the questions are formulated. Italian bureaucrats love “il burocratese” (bureaucratic language), which gives them a sense of power, and makes even the simplest matters incredibly difficult for ordinary people to understand. Here is an example from the recent referendum:

QUESITO N.1:

Modalità di affidamento e gestione dei servizi pubblici locali di rilevanza economica

“Volete Voi che sia abrogato l’art. 23-bis (Servizi pubblici locali di rilevanza economica) del decreto-legge 25 giugno 2008, n. 112 “Disposizioni urgenti per lo sviluppo economico, la semplificazione, la competitività, la stabilizzazione della finanza pubblica e finanza la perequazione tributaria”, convertito, con modificazioni, in legge 6 agosto 2008, n. 133, come modificato dall’art. 30, comma 26, della legge 23 luglio 2009, n. 99, recante “Disposizioni per lo sviluppo e l’internazionalizzazione delle imprese, nonché in materia di energia”, e dall’art. 15 del decreto-legge 25 settembre 2009, n. 135, recante “Disposizioni urgenti per l’attuazione di obblighi comunitari e per l’esecuzione di sentenze della corte di giustizia della Comunità europea”, convertito, con modificazioni, in legge 20 novembre 2009, n. 166, nel testo risultante a seguito della sentenza n. 325 del 2010 della Corte costituzionale?”

 

Wow! I’m looking at it again after two weeks and still I don’t know what it really says! I can’t even try and translate it, it’s complete gibberish. So, how do we form our opinions? We read the newspapers, search the Internet, discuss issues with friends, and listen to those politicians who seem to be the most trustworthy. But believe me, it’s not easy!

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Comments:

  1. Justin:

    Thanks for clearing up those points. As a politically interested person in what happens in Italy, I am delighted that Berlusconi got four more cathedrals thrown at him in this referendum, and that people chose to vote (against him and his cheating) rather than head off to the beach as he would have preferred them to do. Thanks again.

  2. Lesley Brennan:

    Il burocratese mi sembra essere proprio come la nostra ‘legalese’ (the definition in english from Cambridge Dictionaries online is: ” language used by lawyers and in legal documents which is difficult for ordinary people to understand”
    Ancora, Serena, tante grazie per il tuo blog – sempre utile e interessante.
    Saluti, Lesley

  3. Edoardo:

    Serena, tante grazie per la tua spiegazione,adeso capisco come è questo del referendum. Come io sono italiano allo stero non ho amici con chi parlar ed a volte non so cosa voto.
    Saludti.
    Edoardo

  4. Allan Mahnke:

    Mille grazie!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Allan

  5. Lee:

    Ciao Sarena!
    We have similar “legalese” spouting from the lawyers here in the U.S too. Not so many “double negatives” (voting yes to vote no), but reading laws proposed by politicians has always given me a headache. I’m very delighted that the outcome was a good one, and that Berlusconi won’t leave quite as big of a legacy.
    Bravo Italiani!
    -Lee

  6. Rod Stephens:

    As always, great to read your blogs.
    Here in Great Britain there is a Plain English campaign that makes it difficult for politicians to cheat the electorate in quite the way that the Italian government clearly tried to in this referendum. manys thanks for this insider’s look at the politics of Italy!

  7. Bill Rohwer:

    Prima di tutto, Serena, grazie per questo esempio del testo di un “quesito.” Fino a ho letto questo testo, ho pensato che i referendum in California erano incomprensibile, ma adesso sembrano trasparenti! Grazie ancora, Bill

  8. Andreas:

    Salve Serena!
    Grazie infinite per il blog.
    Come si possa capire questa domanda, non me lo posso immaginare.
    Ancora mi congratulo con gli italiani per la vittoria!
    Andreas


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