Mattarella warns of political infighting, urges respect for popular will

Italian President Sergio Mattarella has issued a strong warning against the escalating contentious nature of the country's political system, urging all parties to respect the popular will. Speaking at the traditional Quirinale ceremony, Mattarella cautioned against the risks of widespread voter abstention, which could delegitimize any election outcome. His message served as a clear admonition to both the governing majority and the opposition to avoid bending electoral outcomes to partisan interests.

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The appeal to electoral participation and the risks that massive abstention could delegitimize any majority emerging from the polls, however, was unavoidable.

The President reiterated his call for an end to furious, yet largely sterile, political debates. This appeal comes at a critical juncture as Italy grapples with a divisive electoral reform bill, which faces constitutional doubts. Issues such as blocked candidate lists and a generous seat bonus for parties reaching 42% of the vote are under scrutiny. The lingering question of voter preferences, desired by Brothers of Italy but opposed by Forza Italia and tentatively by the League, remains unresolved and is expected to be addressed in September.

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He reiterated his appeal to avoid furious, yet mostly sterile, controversies.

Mattarella voiced deeper concerns about a political trend that prioritizes procedural matters and candidate selection over addressing the nation's pressing problems. He fears this focus could ultimately dishearten the electorate. In an environment where listening to opposing viewpoints is increasingly rare, the President noted a growing temptation to force issues and blur the lines between the branches of state power. He specifically condemned any hesitation in condemning violent demonstrations that challenge democracy, referencing the delayed condemnation by some opposition groups of anti-infrastructure protesters' attacks on police in Val di Susa.

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There are blocked lists and the generous prize in seats for those who reach 42 percent of the vote to put at risk the "placet" from the Constitutional Court.

The President also touched upon the worrying trend of "state abdication," where laws might be adapted to individual cases, citing the controversial case of a jeweler convicted of killing robbers. The manner in which the right-wing sought a pardon, bypassing presidential prerogatives, highlighted what Mattarella described as a "difficult-to-ignore grammatical error" in political conduct. His measured yet firm tone reflects the deep concern within the presidency regarding the current state of political discourse and governance.

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And, in a discussion where the refusal to listen to others' reasons tends to prevail, the temptation of forcefulness, of overcoming the limits between the powers of the State, emerges.