In Italy, the debate on the evils of politics has limited itself to accusing public contributions, without seeing that they are only part of the problem. We need the courage to admit that the abolition of public financing of political activity cannot heal the crisis of legitimacy, as well as of representation, of the parties.
There are too many clichés on the subject: it is not true, for example, that public funding for political parties constitutes an Italian anomaly, being provided for in all European democracies, with the exception of the United Kingdom, and amounting to substantial amounts and relevant percentages on total income of the parties.
What they really fear is not the abrogation of public funding but rather the subordination of their legal recognition to minimal features of internal democracy and the application of stringent obligations of transparency and effective controls.
This does not mean that action should not be taken on the levels and methods of public contributions, but that this must be done within the context of a broader and more coherent regulatory framework, which takes into account various aspects and which links up with the electoral reform.
ISBN | 978-88-91111-30-2
Published June 2013 by YCP
edited by Paola Caporossi
It is available in bookstores and online.
To order it from the Foundation, write to: [email protected]
