Italy's Cottarelli Pushes Law for Transparent Electoral Promises

Economist Carlo Cottarelli has introduced DDL 550, a bill that would require Italian political parties to disclose the cost and financing sources of any election promise. The proposal, motivated by past promises that could have cost up to €150 billion a year, mandates an ex‑ante assessment by the Parliamentary Budget Office, including the option to fund proposals through debt.

Cottarelli also promotes a public campaign called “Quanto mi costa?” aimed at educating voters on the realism of political proposals. The initiative has collected roughly 29,000 signatures in two weeks. In tandem with the legislative push, a methodological guide for fact‑checking political promises has been outlined, emphasizing the use of official data, measurable indicators and a clear three‑part structure (objective, cost, funding) to turn slogans into verifiable commitments. Cottarelli has ruled out running for mayor of Milan.