COMITES Elections 2026
by Luciano De Faveri – Executive Director
Throughout the world, Italians registered with AIRE (Registry of Italians Resident Abroad) should register on the electoral rolls of the competent consular authorities. by November 4th, to subsequently receive the electoral package at home, to be returned free of charge to the Consulate of your residence.
Why did I write SHOULD?
Because a HUGE number of AIRE members don’t even know what COMITES (Committees of Italians Abroad) are, let alone register to vote for them.
COMITES are the bridge between Italian communities abroad and consulates and embassies. Their members work on a voluntary basis and receive no remuneration.
The idea that Italians born in Italy and living abroad are quite widespread is ITALIANS OF SERIE A, while the descendants of Italians who have obtained Italian citizenship are ITALIANS OF SERIES B.
Nothing could be further from the truth: such a distinction can, in any case, be traced back to decades of political propaganda.
Those registered with AIRE are ALL ITALIANS AT THE SAME LEVEL, WITH THE SAME RIGHTS AND DUTIES.
It is Italian politicians who distinguish, for political expediency, between SERIES A ITALIANS, resident in Italy, and SERIES B ITALIANS, resident abroad, with the exception of occasions when Italian and European political elections are held.
Why?
The issue isn’t unique to Brazil, where I live. I’ve also received confirmation from other countries, such as Argentina, Colombia, and the United States. I don’t rule out the possibility that the situation is similar everywhere, albeit with some differences, probably not substantial.
Let’s examine the official data I received, relating to Brazil and, in particular, to the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Italy in Curitiba, which includes the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina.
The 2021 COMITES elections: the numbers
In 2021, in the COMITES elections in Brazil, the official figures were as follows:
- Those entitled to vote: 424,690
- Opting, that is, members who had requested to vote: 15,180 (3.57%)
- Packages actually received: 11,342 (2.67%)
- Valid votes: 9,612, equal to 2.26% of those entitled to vote.
Source: Italian Embassy in Brasilia.
The Curitiba district
For the COMITES of Curitiba, which includes Paraná and Santa Catarina, the data were as follows:
- Those entitled to vote: 76,884
- Opting: 4,389
- Packages received: 3,569
- Valid votes: 3.116
- Participation with respect to those entitled to vote: 4.05%.
Currently, in the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina there are approximately 100,000 people registered with AIRE. 138,000 Italians, who could participate in the elections of the COMITES of Curitiba, after registering on the electoral lists according to the established procedures.
Only civic lists can represent an alternative independent from the parties. In the case of Curitiba, the list OUR PR/SC VOICE It is not connected to or financed by any Italian or Brazilian political group.
Given the importance of COMITES in supporting the Italian community and in calling for improvements to consular services, for example by speeding up passport renewal procedures, political parties should commit to raising awareness among AIRE members and encouraging them to register on the electoral rolls.
Yet, they don’t do it, or they do it in a very mild way, especially if we compare their commitment with that of the civic list, which is using all available means to encourage Italians to register and vote.
Lists linked to political parties can count on a “hard core” of supporters, consolidated over the years, and therefore on a relatively stable number of votes.
But there is one aspect that must be clear: For politically aligned lists, winning seats in the COMITES also means aiming for a broader and VERY IMPORTANT objective: the election of members of the CGIE (General Council of Italians Abroad).
CGIE: Why is it so important?
The CGIE is responsible for representing the interests of Italians residing outside Italy before the Italian Government and Parliament. It is composed of: 63 members: 43 elected by the current COMITES and 20 appointed by decree of the President of the Council of Ministers. The Council works closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Brazil has four representatives. It’s therefore understandable that political parties are interested in these four positions. And the path to influencing this representation begins precisely by gaining a majority in the COMITES.
It is well known that every political party, in any country, tends to put its own interests first. before those of the communities it is supposed to represent. In fact, the priorities of the parties do not always coincide with the concrete needs of citizens.
Paraná and Santa Catarina: What is the turnover?
Another aspect to consider is the economic one. What is the importance of trade relations between Italy and the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina?
Specific data on the overall value of Italian exports to the two Brazilian states are not available for this analysis. The general data, however, paint a significant picture.
- Paraná: The state contributes significantly to the Brazilian economy and national exports, with products such as soybeans, motor vehicles, food, timber, and meat.
- Santa Catarina: It is one of Brazil’s most economically developed states and a major exporter of poultry and pork. It also boasts industrial hubs of interest to Italian companies, including the ceramics sector in Criciúma, the mechanical engineering sector in Joinville, and the textile sector in Blumenau.
- Brazil and Italy: Trade between the two countries reaches billions in value. The figures cited for 2019-2020 indicated Brazilian imports from Italy amounting to approximately 3.6 billion euros and a negative trade balance for Italy of approximately 800 million euros.
So, we’re talking about some very interesting values.
Italians Abroad: It’s Time to Make Your Voice Heard
This article should be enough to make Italians living abroad, and in particular those living in Brazil, understand how important and fundamental it is to register to vote in COMITES elections.
The more people vote, the more difficult it will be for Italian politicians to continue treating Italians abroad as second-class citizens.
The writer belongs to the consular district of Curitiba. Anyone needing information or assistance can consult the civic list website. OUR VOICE: