Italy’s parliament has approved a controversial electoral reform proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, which has sparked protests from opposition parties. The reform introduces a proportional electoral system with bonus seats for the coalition receiving the most votes and reaching a 42% threshold, a move critics argue could unfairly benefit the ruling coalition in future elections.
With 227 lawmakers voting in favor and 164 against in a secret ballot, the bill passed in the lower house. Opposition MPs responded by displaying signs condemning the legislation and questioning its fairness. They plan to challenge the law in Italy’s Constitutional Court, citing concerns that it could distort voter representation and alter the political landscape in favor of Meloni’s coalition, which includes Brothers of Italy, Forza Italia, and the League.
Prime Minister Meloni hailed the parliamentary vote as a testament to the unity within her coalition, despite internal tensions and competition from political rivals. In contrast, Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein criticized the reform, accusing the government of changing the electoral rules out of fear of the next election. Schlein argued that the reform might skew the political balance by providing the leading coalition with additional parliamentary representation.
The opposition also took issue with a provision that requires political parties and coalitions to present their government programs and name their candidates for prime minister before the election. This requirement, they argue, could place additional pressure on opposition parties, which are already grappling with significant divisions and disagreements over cooperation.
Recent polling suggests that a united front among opposition parties could potentially achieve the 42% vote threshold required for the bonus seats. However, the path to such unity is fraught with challenges, as opposition groups continue to struggle with internal divisions as Italy looks ahead to its next general election, scheduled by October 2027.