Italian parties clash over electoral reform plans

Italy's major political parties clashed on Wednesday over plans to change much-criticised electoral laws as manoeuvering intensified ahead of a vote due to take place next May at the latest.

Both the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom party (PDL) want to change voting laws which will shape the government that succeeds Prime Minister Mario Monti's technocrat administration.

But they have failed to reach agreement after weeks of wrangling, despite optimism that a deal sought by all sides would be sealed before the parliamentary summer recess scheduled to start on August 10.

The debate has absorbed political attention, even while the country's economic crisis intensifies. It has also reminded voters of the fractious bickering that dominated Italian politics before Monti's arrival and is likely to return after his departure.

"I think there is a big, big chance of reaching an agreement on the electoral law and I think an agreement is not far off. But we would appreciate it if the PD didn't play dishonest games," PDL secretary Angelino Alfano told a news conference.

The PDL wants a system based on a French-style president, directly elected by voters and supported by parliament elected under a preferential voting system.

This formula is regarded with suspicion by the left, which says a constitutional change of such magnitude cannot be rushed through. "We don't want to be taken for a ride," PD leader Pier Luigi Bersani told reporters.

The current law, derided even by the minister who oversaw its introduction in 2005 as a "porcata" ("crap"), is a proportional system which does not allow the electorate to vote for individual candidates.

It has been widely criticised for allowing the parties to stuff their lists with unqualified placemen with no direct connection to the electorate and totally dependent on party hierarchies for their political careers.