Don’t worry if you do not understand the Italian electoral system because it also baffles, and angers, a large majority of Italians.

The complex system, based on proportional representation, was introduced by the centre-right government of Silvio Berlusconi in late 2005, just months before the 2006 elections. Its author was Roberto Caldoroli, a right-wing member of the Northern League who was then minister for institutional reform. After its passing he admitted, several times, that it was a “load of rubbish”, blaming the outcome not on design but messy political negotiations. Critics and some supporters of Berlusconi believe the law was passed to favour his centre-right alliance. Others saw it as a poison pill for the centre-left which the centre-right correctly feared would win the 2006 elections. If that was their intention they succeeded, as the new system opened parliament’s doors to a plethora of small parties that made government extremely difficult. In all 39 parties were elected.