Lo scrittoio del Presidente (1956)

The essay is an early introduction to The President’s Writing Desk, the collection organized by Einaudi at the conclusion of his presidency of the Republic. The real significance of the volume lies in the systematization of the Quirinale’s role in Italian institutional life. In Einaudi’s systematization, the main concern is evident: to make the presidency of the Republic the interpreter of the general interest of the country. This is in constant dialogue with representatives of the other powers. At a time when fundamental bodies such as the Constitutional Court, the Higher Council of the Judiciary and the Regions are still absent, the presidency of the Republic becomes the guardian of respect for the rights of freedom. There is much attention in Einaudi, for example, to freedom of movement within and outside the Republic. He is also a careful guardian of the prerogatives granted by the Constitution to the head of state, keeping his powers unchanged in order to transmit them to his successors. This is to safeguard the existing differences between the various powers and thus to protect pluralism and possible attacks on its functioning. For Einaudi it is vital to give foundation to the model of democracy that the country had given itself after the frightful prices paid to nationalist ideologies with the Fascist dictatorship.