“Non hanno un amico” - by Luca Bizzarri
43rd in Spotify Top Episodes chart
1st for listens on the topic "Rejected Preference Votes"
“Nobody gets off scot-free. Meloni proposing a law reintroducing preference votes as a sham, because they only apply from the second name on the list downwards — and no sh*t, they’d say in France — the top spot is always hers to decide. The opposition organizing to sink a law they don’t like simply because the other side proposed it.”
“Non hanno un amico” is the daily podcast of political and cultural satire by Luca Bizzarri, one of the most listened-to in Italy, regularly in Spotify’s Top 10, with short episodes focused on a specific topic. In the July 15th episode, Bizzarri addresses the failed vote on the preference vote amendment with a critical and sardonic look across the entire parliamentary spectrum: in his sights are the effectiveness of the preference system proposed by the majority, the defections within the center-right, and the opposition’s celebrations at the amendment’s rejection. In the telling of the crisis day at the Chamber of Deputies, it is satire – more than political reporting – that takes center stage.
President of the Council of Ministers
“We tried. The swamp has won again. We tried to reintroduce preference votes into the electoral law after more than 30 years of closed lists. We asked for an open vote so that everyone would stand behind their vote, but the opposition insisted on a secret ballot. The result shows that the left and the opposition voted solidly against. But several votes were also missing within the majority, and this calls for reflection. The amendment was rejected by a single vote. A missed opportunity for Italians, but it was right to try.”
Shortly after the negative vote on the preference vote amendment in the new electoral law, Giorgia Meloni commented on the outcome on her Facebook profile. It is a statement in which the President emphasizes the opposition’s vote against, while acknowledging the critical issue of missing votes within the majority. The narrative framing chosen by Meloni positions herself and Fratelli d’Italia as the standard-bearers of preference voting, in contrast with the left – and, reading between the lines, with the other parties of the majority as well. Total engagement exceeded 134,000, confirming the digital leadership Giorgia Meloni maintains in the landscape of Italian political communication on social media.
“At least the left said outright they were voting against because they oppose this government — but a section of the right betrayed what it had promised Italians. It betrayed them to serve its own interests, to maneuver things to its advantage next time around. It betrayed its own voters and it betrayed its own government.”
The reading offered by Tommaso Cerno, editor of the historically center-right daily Il Giornale, differs from that proposed by Prime Minister Meloni. In his video editorial published on Facebook, Cerno focuses on the failings of the governing coalition: while a negative vote from the opposition was expected on tactical grounds, the majority’s failure to pass its own measure is characterized as a “betrayal.” The video ranks among the highest-engagement social content on the topic, particularly in terms of shares: on Facebook alone, these exceeded 10,000.
Satirical video news page
“The vote on this amendment was held by secret ballot. The majority fell short by one vote because some within the coalition voted against – the internal defectors – as they were not in favour of introducing preference votes.”
The Journalai has established itself as one of the most irreverent voices in Italian political media: specializing in videos with heavy use of editing and background music, its stylistic hallmark is a behind-the-scenes take on political news. A perfect example is the reel published on Instagram about the preference vote: the day of twists, celebrations, and recriminations between the majority and opposition at the Chamber — including the Vannacci contingent, already a recurring protagonist — is skillfully captured in The Journalai’s characteristically chaotic editing.
Leader of Movimento 5 Stelle
“In your view, a Prime Minister who has held Parliament hostage over electoral law instead of wages and healthcare — and who has just been voted down by her own majority — where should she be today? 1. At the Quirinal Palace to resign. 2. At a majority summit to find a way out of the swamp they have dragged themselves and Italy into. 3. At the award ceremony for the Masters of Cuisine. I’ll post the correct answer in the comments.”
The day after the vote, Giuseppe Conte published a pointed post on Facebook, ironizing over Prime Minister Meloni’s attendance at a culinary awards ceremony on what was theoretically a critical day for the governing majority. Several Movimento 5 Stelle figures produced highly critical content on the matter, drawing attention to this government misstep: most notably the party leader himself, whose post sparked a lively discussion with over 15,000 comments.
