Parlamenti e pandemia: una prima ricostruzione.

Abstract

Parliaments and pandemic: a first assessment - The article suggests a classification of measures adopted during the pandemic by the parliaments of consolidated democracies of western legal tradition in order to guarantee the continuity of their functions both in terms of legislation and control. The analysis focuses on the reorganisation of attendance of parliamentary sessions and proceedings, including the issue of digital parliament, and tackles the relation between parliament and the government. Legislatures were generally late in developing an adequate response to the health emergency, and then gradually tried to recover lost ground. The pandemic confirmed and highlighted the significance of the executive power within contemporary systems of government; this can either mark a further step along the descending parable of parliaments or become an opportunity to rethink their role and their relation with governments within democratic systems.