Italy: number of parliamentarians is reduced

The Italian Parliament has decided to reduce the number of deputies and senators. A large majority of parliamentarians voted on Tuesday for a corresponding constitutional reform. 553 yes votes were opposed by only 14 against and two abstentions.

The reform provides for a one-third reduction in the number of parliamentarians in order to reduce government spending by € 100 million a year. The number of deputies is therefore expected to fall from 630 to 400, that of senators from 315 to 200.

The project was the election promise of the five-star movement, which ruled since the beginning of September in a coalition with the Social Democrats. "It's done! 345 less parliamentarians kept their promises," the party wrote on its website.

According to the Five-Star Movement, the reduction in the number of parliamentarians should, in addition to the financial savings, also facilitate more effective cooperation between the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

With 945 deputies and senators, Italy currently has the second highest number of parliamentarians in Europe. Only in the British House of Commons sit with 1400 deputies even more. In the Bundestag are currently sitting 709 MPs, a desired reduction of the Bundestag had failed in April on the disunity of the parties.