Italy’s parliament has finalized a significant electoral reform introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, sparking strong opposition protests. The reform, which implements a proportional electoral system with bonus seats for the leading coalition, has been criticized for potentially favoring the ruling parties in future elections.
The legislation passed the lower house with 227 votes in favor and 164 against, drawing immediate backlash from opposition lawmakers. They argue that the new system, which benefits coalitions reaching a 42% vote threshold, might skew voter representation. The opposition has vowed to challenge the law in Italy’s Constitutional Court, questioning its fairness and the requirement for parties to present government programs and prime ministerial candidates ahead of elections.
Prime Minister Meloni hailed the approval as a testament to the unity of her coalition, which includes Brothers of Italy, Forza Italia, and the League. Despite internal pressures and emerging political rivals, the coalition has maintained its parliamentary majority. Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein accused the government of manipulating electoral rules to maintain power, suggesting the reform could alter the political landscape by granting extra seats to the leading coalition.
The opposition remains divided, which poses a challenge ahead of the next general election, scheduled by October 2027. Recent polling indicates a potential united opposition could meet the 42% threshold necessary under the new system, though disagreements on cooperation persist.