Rifondazione Comunista protests new electoral signature requirements

The Partito della Rifondazione Comunista (PRC) has denounced a proposed amendment to the electoral law that would increase the number of signatures required for parties not currently represented in Parliament to run in elections. The amendment, introduced by Senator Zedda of Fratelli d'Italia, reportedly sets the threshold between 450,000 and 700,000 signatures.

Party leaders Maurizio Acerbo and Gianluca Schiavon argue that these requirements are unreachable for smaller political formations and create an unfair advantage for established parties. They claim that parties already in Parliament would be exempt from these signature requirements starting in 2025, which they describe as a 'favor castae' or a privilege for the political elite.

The PRC contends that the measure is unconstitutional, violating Articles 48 and 51 of the Italian Constitution regarding formal equality and democratic rights. The party has called for the withdrawal of the amendment and has appealed to the President of the Republic to intervene against what they characterize as an attack on constitutional democracy.