Italy Renews Electoral System, Sparking Political Fervor
Italy’s parliament has approved a contentious overhaul of the electoral system championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ahead of elections scheduled next year.
Lawmakers voted 227 to 164 in favour of moving to a fully proportional system, which Meloni has argued will boost the chance of clear winners and more stable government.
Opposition parties say her right‑wing coalition designed the proposals to improve its chance of retaining power, and in a heated debate on Thursday they accused it of flouting democracy.
Meloni warned she could resign and trigger an early election if the plans were rejected, with the secret ballot seen as a test of her authority.
The coalition has overseen a rare period of political stability for Italy since her election in 2022, and last month her government became the country’s longest‑running since World War Two.
Under the new rules, the country will move away from its current hybrid voting system, in which about a third of members are chosen through a first‑past‑the‑post vote and the rest through proportional representation.
Parties proposing to form a coalition will be required to put forward their joint candidate for prime minister and their political programme before any general election.
A coalition or party winning more than 42% of the vote will be awarded dozens of additional seats in parliament, turning a narrow victory into a more comfortable majority.
The proposals have also exposed tensions within the ranks of Meloni’s coalition, with the Brothers of Italy party and its allies the far‑right League and centre‑right Forza Italia.
Analysts predicted the final vote would likely pass, especially given the risk of losing parliamentary pension eligibility if a snap election were forced early.
After the vote, Meloni wrote on social media that the centre‑right remained united, cohesive, and determined to honor commitments made to citizens. She added that the new rules aim to promote stability and parliamentary coherence regardless of the government’s political colour.
Her term officially ends in October 2027, though she could bring elections forward to spring in the event of a snap vote.
