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Professor Daniele Albertazzi

@dralbertazziuk.bsky.social
2.8K followers 543 following 2.3K posts

Professor of Politics, Research Community Lead (School of Social Sciences) @UniOfSurrey. #populism, #EuropeanPolitics, #partyorganisation. Posts=my views.

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Reposted by Professor Daniele Albertazzi
Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Italy is providing a free lesson to the UK about how NOT to go about changing electoral law. Firstly, it has changed them every few years according to the needs of the governing majority of the day. Second, the workings of electoral laws should be fairly easy to grasp for voters..good luck with that
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Well, sometimes... but not every time (Porcellum, Italicum, Stabilicum...)
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
So what we can say for certain is that, if the centre-left wins the next election the first thing they'll do is... immediately approve a "Sinistrum" ;-) Like: the following day.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Lists must be filed in at least half the constituencies, candidates can run in a maximum of 5. The opposition has branded the bonus of seats a fraud and announced challenges at the Constitutional Court.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Signatures to run: parties with a parliamentary group formed by 31 Dec 2025 are... exempt. Those with a group or component in either chamber need 1,500–2,000 per constituency. Parties with no MPs need 6,000–7,000, up from 1,500 (Anti-Vannacci rule... but it won't work).
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
One Forza Italia projection estimates a fall from today's 33% of women in Parliament to no more than 15%.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
So parties are free to place only men at the head of their list. Justification for this? I have heard none.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Preferences return... in part (cannot be that easy!). Lists have 7 candidates, and the party picks a blocked head of list. Voters can then cast up to 3 preferences, with gender alternation.... from the second name onwards, not the first! A PD proposal for fully open preferences was rejected.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Thresholds are 3% for single lists and 10% for coalitions. Each coalition must also name its candidate for prime minister when it files its party symbol (a problem for the left, not for the right right now, dominated by Meloni)
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The result rewards very wide coalitions -- a problem for Meloni now that Vannacci is a factor (will she feel compelled to let him inside her coalition?), a problem for the divided and litigious left, too.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
A key change came in the Senate. The Chamber's July text counted only lists above 3% toward the 42%. A Senate amendment scrapped this, so EVERY vote for every coalition partner now counts, even for lists that win no seats.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
❌ No 42%? No bonus. If no coalition reaches the threshold, or if the Chamber and Senate produce different outcomes... seats are then allocated by pure proportional representation with no bonus at all. (Things are starting to get more complicated...)
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The bonus: the coalition that reaches at least 42% gets 70 extra seats in the Chamber and 35 in the Senate, capped at 220 deputies and 113 senators. That means a winner ends up with roughly 55% of seats. So far so easy to grasp
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The Melonellum eliminates the single-member, first-past-the-post constituencies (goodbye UK, after all you have brexited). New system is pure proportional representation with a majority bonus, which supporters call a "governability bonus." Hence: "Stabilicum" (Strong and Stable govts: here we come)
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The new law ("Stabilicum" or, for the opposition: "Melonellum" - don't get me started on how the names are picked) replaces the current law, the "Rosatellum". Which replaced the "Italicum". Which replaced the "Porcellum". Which was only passed 20 years ago!
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Where the new law stands: today the Chamber approved confidence votes on the first two articles. The third confidence vote is tomorrow, and the final secret ballot is Thursday, 8 October. If the Chamber approves the same text, it becomes law. Any change sends it back to the Senate.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Italy is providing a free lesson to the UK about how NOT to go about changing electoral law. Firstly, it has changed them every few years according to the needs of the governing majority of the day. Second, the workings of electoral laws should be fairly easy to grasp for voters..good luck with that
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Reposted by Professor Daniele Albertazzi
Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Even those who, following Lord Darlington "know the price of everything and the value of nothing" & think music, languages and culture aren't that important... should still be worried. Universities make huge economic contributions to their areas. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/notting...
timeshighereducation.com
Nottingham confirms course closures with hundreds of jobs affected
Languages and music departments to close despite strikes and protests but university insists it has addressed staff concerns in revised plans
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
There are still plenty of canals after all...
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Don't forget the apprenticeships that will spark a new industrial revolution in the Midlands!
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Even if you only care about GDP, you'd be mad in letting one of your major industries and sources of reputation sink like this as if didn't matter. Mad.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Even those who, following Lord Darlington "know the price of everything and the value of nothing" & think music, languages and culture aren't that important... should still be worried. Universities make huge economic contributions to their areas. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/notting...
timeshighereducation.com
Nottingham confirms course closures with hundreds of jobs affected
Languages and music departments to close despite strikes and protests but university insists it has addressed staff concerns in revised plans
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Reposted by Professor Daniele Albertazzi
Alexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Under Labour large swathes of the UK outside of London and Manchester are losing access to much of Europe and Britain's cultural heritage. Burnham talks a good game about regional pride even as his government mindlessly watches many of its foundations collapse beyond the Southeast and Northwest
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Reposted by Professor Daniele Albertazzi
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 05/10/2026
Spain’s Sánchez calls snap election amid national housing crisis – Europe live
theguardian.com
Spain’s Sánchez calls snap election amid national housing crisis – Europe live
PM says vote will take place on 29 November after parliament rejected two of his government’s emergency relief measures Sanchez says “to do more, we need to renew and expand public support” for the “deep reforms” required. “We must mobilise and secure a much broader progressive majority in parliament – one that allows us to overcome the elites … and continue transforming Spain,” he says. Continue reading...
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Reposted by Professor Daniele Albertazzi
Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The Greens' open model gives members real power and makes the party credible as a democratic, bottom-up organisation, but it exposes the leadership to this kind of risk. Internal rules have consequences!
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Internal rules are fascinating; they have important consequences (sometimes unintended); and tells us a lot about how a party sees itself. And yes, I need to get out more. I intend to, I promise.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Challenger left wing parties like the Greens may not be willing to impose controls, partly because their very identity rests on being different...
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
A managed model (i.e. Labour/Conservative conferences) protects the leadership and electoral appeal... but invites accusations of stitch-ups and can demobilise activists, who are often the party's main labour force.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The Greens' open model gives members real power and makes the party credible as a democratic, bottom-up organisation, but it exposes the leadership to this kind of risk. Internal rules have consequences!
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Party who's embraced nativist policies and rhetoric with gusto criticises competitor for becoming similar to the BNP. OK.
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Reposted by Professor Daniele Albertazzi
Alexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Getting the UK back into the EU is no longer just about winning the arguments of 2016. It is about anticipating and decisively shifting the Overton Window around where the arguments will be about membership in the 2030s.
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Reposted by Professor Daniele Albertazzi
Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The UK's path back to the EU: Years 1–5: "Looking at all options". Oh yes. Years 6–7: Arguing over referendum question Years 8–17: Negotiating all opt-outs Year 18: Shocked to find the EU is now the "Democratic Planetary Union", stretches to Canada & South Korea, and has rewritten every treaty.
British PM Andy Burnham looking surprised
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
A bit late, but less telegraphic and funnier. At least give me that...
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Every Italian pretending they didn't hear and walking off briskly, eyes glued to their phone…
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The UK's path back to the EU: Years 1–5: "Looking at all options". Oh yes. Years 6–7: Arguing over referendum question Years 8–17: Negotiating all opt-outs Year 18: Shocked to find the EU is now the "Democratic Planetary Union", stretches to Canada & South Korea, and has rewritten every treaty.
British PM Andy Burnham looking surprised
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The reform was conceived be4 Vannacci became a factor. Now that he is, it may become a boomerang. Truth is: it's wide open at national level. Nobody can know. Will Renzi and Conte run together? And Vannaccj with Meloni? With what proposals? Don't lose sleep, it's much too early...
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Don't try to beat the right on their own terrain, provide an alternative, not just in terms of solutions, but also in defining what themes really matter. And provide a blueprint for the future. These last two things Burnham did can travel in my view.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
On one hand it was very British, & not necessarily easy to "imitate". Brexit & water privatisation, to cite the most obvious themes, are national topics. On other hand, what others could learn is to take ownership of themes the right is not seen as credible in covering (care for old people was one).
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Reposted by Professor Daniele Albertazzi
PSA Italian Politics @psa-italian.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
📢12 days left to propose a paper for our joint PSA 2027 panels! Whether your work is on the radical left's changing ideas, movements and social bases, or on transnational cooperation and the politics of crisis, we'd love to hear from you. 🔗 app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/82810...
app.oxfordabstracts.com
Oxford Abstracts
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
And the fact that 4 years after Meloni's victory they still have not bothered to agree on ONE major programmatic point (one...) that they'll put the electorate confirms that. But can they win? Yes.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Next race appears very open, I would not necessarily think one side or the other are certain of anything. Moreover, we do not know under what electoral system they'll compete, & who is in which coalition as yet. The left's problem is that - even if they do win - I doubt they'll be effective in govt
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Reposted by Professor Daniele Albertazzi
Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Chasing-Vannacci Watch - new instalment. Sure enough, extreme right leader (former General) Vannacci was hosted by the mother of all current affairs programme today, Bruno Vespa's Porta a Porta (public service broadcaster, RAI).
Anchor of major current affairs programme Porta a Porta (Door to Door), Bruno Vespa, with his guest today, the extreme right leader general Vannacci (wearing a suit)
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
You want to understand the extreme right today? Forget about reading Alice Weidel's doctoral thesis on the Chinese pension system and study how the likes of RAI and BBC turn masked thugs into "protestors" and Vannacci into a welcome guest on prime time television. THAT is were the action is.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The outer edge of the extreme right, booked into the most establishment slot on public TV that ever existed ON THE PLANET, and discussed as a coalition variable. He even joked about the anchor's "black shirt". Vannacci, wearing blue. Pure genius.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
That's what NORMALISATION looks like: not a shocking moment, but a routine one. All smiles and light jokes. "We won't touch women's rights, you have got my word", he says.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Surprise! Public broadcaster RAI and their anchor Bruno Vespa, suspecting the guy may in fact be heading towards some REAL position of influence in the near future, hand over microphone to him to discuss...precisely the topic he wishes to lecture right wing electorate about. His indispensability.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
So tonight the talk is very much about whether Futuro Nazionale is 'indispensable' for the right to win.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Having been elected to the European Parliament in the list of Salvini's League, Vannacci has now created his own party (Futuro Nazionale) and is eager to convince Meloni to let him "inside the tent" of the right wing coalition.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
My followers have heard me talk about Vannacci many times before. A former general who shot to fame in 2023 with a self-published book whose comments on gay people and a Black Italian volleyball star got him disciplined by the army.
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Professor Daniele Albertazzi @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
For non-Italians: Porta a Porta (Door to Door) isn't just a talk show. It's been RAI's flagship political programme since 1996, so important that it's nicknamed parliament's "third chamber"... Being invited there is the establishment's seal of respectability. Tonight it went to Roberto Vannacci.
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