2024-04-18 23:18:43
(ANSA) – ROME, APRIL 18 – The question of the preclusion for citizens with serious disabilities from signing the electoral lists in regional elections with a digital signature was raised before the Constitutional Court, through an order issued by the Court of Civitavecchia. This was made known by Carlo Gentili – brother of the Co-president of the ‘Luca Coscioni’ association Marco Gentili, also suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis type II – who, due to his condition, cannot affix an autograph signature. His desire to be able to use the digital signature to exercise the right to sign the electoral lists clashed with the impossibility of doing so, in accordance with the law despite the obvious implications in terms of discrimination and limitation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Italian Constitution , including the right to active and passive political participation (articles 48 and 49 of the Constitution). This was announced in a press release from the ‘Luca Coscioni’ Association.
Carlo Gentili, assisted by the lawyer. Giuliano Fonderico has thus appealed against the rule which prevents him from full participation in democratic life. The Court of Civitavecchia, recognizing the relevance and the manifest unfoundedness of the issue, has decided to suspend the ongoing proceedings and transmit the documents to the Court Constitutional. The question raised concerns the possible violation of articles 2 (inviolable human rights), 3 (principle of equality), 48 (right to vote) and 49 (right to political association) of the Constitution, deriving from the preclusion of digital signatures in electoral procedures for citizens with serious disabilities.
“I await with confidence the decision of the Constitutional Court – declared Carlo Gentili – which I hope will recognize the importance of eliminating all forms of discrimination, guaranteeing all citizens, regardless of their physical conditions, full participation in democratic life”.
“We believe that the digitalisation of electoral processes represents a fundamental opportunity to promote the active participation of all citizens in democratic life, also in line with the principles of inclusion and accessibility. As ‘Eumans’ and the ‘Luca Coscioni’ Association we have so far collected 53,878 signatures on the appeal for a free platform for digitally signing referendums and election lists. We hope that the Council will seize this historic opportunity and respond positively to the question posed by Carlo Gentili. It is also time for the Government to keep its commitments on the public platform for digital subscriptions of democratic initiatives”, declared Marco Cappato and Filomena Gallo, respectively Treasurer and National Secretary of the ‘Luca Coscioni’ Association. (HANDLE).
2024-04-18 23:18:43