Key facts
- Italy's lower house approved a government plan to overhaul the electoral law.
- The reform introduces a proportional system with a bonus for blocs winning over 42% of the vote.
- Winners surpassing the 42% threshold would receive bonus seats, capped to avoid overly large majorities.
- The bill abolishes first-past-the-post constituencies.
- The reform still requires Senate approval.
Italy's lower house of parliament has approved a contentious electoral reform proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition. The legislation, which still requires Senate approval, aims to transition to a fully proportional representation system while granting a bonus of seats to any bloc securing over 42% of the vote. This bonus is capped to prevent excessively large majorities, with winners potentially gaining up to 220 seats in the 400-member lower house and 113 in the 200-member Senate.
Opponents have criticized the reform, suggesting it is designed to consolidate Meloni's power ahead of the next election in 2027. The debate over the reform has also highlighted internal tensions within the ruling alliance, with some proposals facing rejection due to coalition defections. The current system, which includes first-past-the-post constituencies, is seen as favoring the opposition, particularly in southern Italy.
The political landscape is further complicated by the rise of Futuro Nazionale, a new far-right movement led by Roberto Vannacci, which is polling over 6% and has begun to siphon support from the ruling coalition. Poll simulations suggest that the positioning of Futuro Nazionale could be crucial in determining the outcome of the next election, potentially influencing whether a right-wing alliance or the center-left prevails.