Electoral Reform in Italy: Expectations and Results

Abstract

The 1993 Italian electoral reform was precipitated by a referendum that gave its sponsors no freedom to specify their preferred system, and the mixed systems ultimately chosen were enacted under great time pressure. As a result, expectations and objectives were never clearly specified, and indeed often were mutually incompatible. The major goal of creating bipolarity and alternation in office was achieved, but the achievement of other goals — including closer ties between representatives and local constituencies, a simplified party system, and ‘cleaner’ politics – is more questionable, as is the fate of the entire reform effort after the replacement of the mixed system with pure PR before the election of 2006.