Bohdan Khmelnytsky visited the Italian Parliament: how the Italian model differs from the Ukrainian one
Bohdan Khmelnytsky, the founder of the Strategic Advocacy Attorneys at Law, visited the Italian Parliament, one of the oldest legislative bodies in Europe, as part of a study tour. During the visit, the delegation members had the opportunity to learn more about the peculiarities of the Italian system of government and compare it with the …
Bohdan Khmelnytsky, the founder of the Strategic Advocacy Attorneys at Law, visited the Italian Parliament, one of the oldest legislative bodies in Europe, as part of a study tour. During the visit, the delegation members had the opportunity to learn more about the peculiarities of the Italian system of government and compare it with the Ukrainian model.
Unlike Ukraine, which has a unicameral Verkhovna Rada, the Italian parliament consists of two equal chambers – the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Both participate equally in the legislative process, which is a rather rare practice even among other European countries.
One of the peculiarities of the Italian parliament is the institution of life-long senators. This status can be granted to former presidents or prominent figures in culture, science, and public life by the decision of the current president. The Ukrainian system does not have a similar mechanism: MPs are elected only for a certain term.
In 2020, following a referendum in Italy, the number of parliamentarians was reduced from 945 to 600 to improve efficiency and reduce public spending. In Ukraine, the number of members of the Verkhovna Rada has remained unchanged at 450.
Another difference concerns the powers of the head of state. In Italy, the president has the right to return a bill for revision if there are doubts about its constitutionality. In Ukraine, this function is performed by the Constitutional Court.
Italian parliamentarians meet in ancient palaces – the Senate is located in the Madama Palace and the Chamber of Deputies in the Montecitorio Palace in the center of Rome.
At the end of the study tour, the delegation members, including Bohdan Khmelnytsky, were presented with copies of the Italian Constitution as a symbol of commitment to the rule of law and respect for human rights.
“Such trips are a great opportunity to better understand other models of government and look at our system from a new perspective,” Bohdan Khmelnytsky shared his impressions.
