Party switching – i.e., the defection by MPs from the party under which they were elected, and the switch to another political formation during the inter-electoral period – continues in Italy to record numbers that are unparalleled in international comparisons. The aim of this paper is, first of all, to frame the phenomenon of party switching from a politological point of view and to show its diffusion in a comparative perspective, and then to outline some possible explanations of the Italian specificity in the light of the existing literature on the topic. A review of the constraints that could limit the number of defections will also be presented, framing in this context the “anti-transformism” measures adopted by the Italian Senate with the amendments to the Rules of Procedure approved in 2017.
Libertà di mandato e party switching. Spunti dalla letteratura politiologica / Pinto, Luca. - In: QUADERNI DI SCIENZA POLITICA. - ISSN 2785-2776. - STAMPA. - 28:2(2021), pp. 335-355. [10.48271/103052]
Libertà di mandato e party switching. Spunti dalla letteratura politiologica
Pinto, Luca
2021
Abstract
Party switching – i.e., the defection by MPs from the party under which they were elected, and the switch to another political formation during the inter-electoral period – continues in Italy to record numbers that are unparalleled in international comparisons. The aim of this paper is, first of all, to frame the phenomenon of party switching from a politological point of view and to show its diffusion in a comparative perspective, and then to outline some possible explanations of the Italian specificity in the light of the existing literature on the topic. A review of the constraints that could limit the number of defections will also be presented, framing in this context the “anti-transformism” measures adopted by the Italian Senate with the amendments to the Rules of Procedure approved in 2017.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.