Italy is resurrecting the provinces, which were abolished in 2014. The direct election of provincial presidents and councilors has returned, as have the juntas. Their competencies will also be expanded to include territorial planning, public service organization, transportation, economic development, digitalization, technical-administrative assistance to local governments, school planning, school buildings, equal opportunities, and workplace discrimination control. A blend of old and new skills that puts provinces back in charge of local governance. The political input comes from Minister for Regional Affairs Roberto Calderoli, who has historically been opposed to the provinces' loss of competences in recent years. But in the chambers, the measure will move independently, as the initiative will remain a legislative one and not an executive one. The provincial president, elected by universal suffrage, will appoint the councils, which must have a maximum of four assessors in provinces with fewer than 500 thousand inhabitants, six in provinces with 500,001 to one million inhabitants, and eight in provinces with more than one million inhabitants. In the composition of the juntas, neither sexes may be represented to a lesser extent than 40%.
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