On Wednesday, 24 September 2025 at 10:00 AM, the first annual workshop of ProStEUVa, “Constitutional Courts and Electoral Integrity: Navigating Challenges, Shaping Prospects”, will take place in the Aula Magna Storica of Palazzo La Sapienza in Pisa.
In recent times, the quality of electoral processes has come under increasing pressure due to foreign interference, disinformation campaigns, microtargeted political advertising, and hybrid warfare. Romania is a standout example: in December 2024, the Constitutional Court annulled the first round of the presidential elections after finding that voters had been misled by coordinated disinformation efforts, which distorted public perception and undermined equal opportunity among the candidates. Similar dynamics – though differing in form and intensity – have been observed across both established and emerging democracies, underscoring a global trend of erosion in electoral trust and democratic resilience.
Against this background, the workshop will explore issues of justice – particularly, constitutional justice – and the challenges of safeguarding the rule of law, democratic principles, and tackling electoral disinformation.
After an introduction by Angioletta Sperti – coordinator of ProStEUVa and Democracy Hub Chair of Circle U. – the workshop will open with a keynote lecture by Dan Banik from the University of Oslo, Director of the Democracy Hub of Circle U., who will reflect on Malawi’s 2019 presidential election annulment — a landmark ruling in which the Constitutional Court denounced widespread irregularities and asserted its independence in the face of political pressure. Afterwards, Matteo Monti from Bocconi University will discuss the role of constitutional courts in upholding electoral integrity, while Raluca Radu of the University of Bucharest will examine the ways disinformation can disrupt free elections, drawing on lessons from the Romanian case.
In the afternoon, a roundtable discussion will bring together junior scholars chosen through a call for papers ProStEUVa launched last May. The session will be chaired and moderated by Giuseppe Martinico from the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, also a member of the ProStEUVa teaching staff.
Download the workshop flyer here.
Those who are unable to attend in person are welcome to join remotely via Microsoft Teams.
