Italy’s parliament has approved sweeping changes to the country’s electoral system following a heated debate, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni backing the reforms ahead of elections expected next year.
Lawmakers voted 227 to 164 in favour of the legislation, paving the way for a fully proportional electoral system. Meloni’s government says the changes are designed to provide greater clarity over election outcomes and promote political stability.
Opposition parties have strongly criticised the reforms, accusing Meloni’s right-wing coalition of seeking to alter the electoral system in a way that could improve its chances of remaining in power.
The legislation triggered heated exchanges during Thursday’s parliamentary proceedings, with opposition lawmakers accusing the government of weakening democratic principles and pushing the changes through without sufficient political consensus.
Meloni had previously indicated that she could resign and call an early election if parliament rejected the reforms, making the vote an important test of her leadership.
Her coalition has maintained an unusually long period of political stability since she became prime minister in 2022. Last month, her government became Italy’s longest-serving administration since the Second World War.
Under the approved system, Italy will abandon its current mixed electoral arrangement, under which roughly one-third of lawmakers are elected through first-past-the-post contests, while the remaining seats are allocated through proportional representation.
The new framework will also require parties seeking to govern together to name a joint candidate for prime minister and present voters with a shared political programme before an election.
A party or coalition that secures the largest share of the vote, provided it wins more than 42%, will receive an additional 105 parliamentary seats. Seventy seats will be allocated to the lower house and 35 to the Senate, potentially giving the winning bloc a stronger working majority.
During the debate ahead of the final vote, centre-left lawmakers accused the governing coalition of advancing the legislation without securing broader agreement.
Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein dismissed the importance of the electoral changes, saying her party would win regardless of which voting system was in place.
The reforms have also exposed differences within Meloni’s governing alliance, which includes her Brothers of Italy party, the League and Forza Italia.
Despite the opposition, analysts had expected the legislation to pass, partly because an early election could affect lawmakers’ eligibility for parliamentary pensions if their terms ended prematurely.
After the vote, Meloni sought to reinforce the image of unity within her coalition, saying on social media that the centre-right had demonstrated that it remained united and committed to delivering on its promises to voters.
She said the reforms were aimed at creating electoral rules capable of strengthening the stability and cohesion of future governments, regardless of their political orientation.
Meloni’s current term is formally scheduled to run until October 2027, although she retains the option of calling an earlier election, potentially as soon as spring.
Goodness Anunobi
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