Italian Parliament Votes on Electoral Reform as Meloni's Fate Hangs

Rome (AFP) – The Italian parliament will hold a vote on Thursday regarding a modification to the country’s electoral law. Opposition parties argue that the right-wing government led by Giorgia Meloni crafted this legislation specifically to bolster its chances of retaining power during next year’s elections.

Details of Proposed Electoral System

The proposal introduces a system of full proportional representation. This mechanism guarantees a parliamentary majority to any coalition that secures more than 42 percent of the votes. Currently, Italy employs a mixed electoral system combining simple majority voting with proportional representation. It is not anticipated that either the right or the left will achieve an absolute majority in parliament under the current rules in the upcoming election.

Meloni’s coalition maintains that enacting a new law is essential for enhancing political stability in Italy. However, experts warn that the reform could produce counterproductive results and potentially pave the way for the left to win the 2027 elections.

Government Justification and Opposition Criticism

Luca Ciriani, the minister responsible for relations with parliament, told AFP that the electoral reform would allow for "guaranteeing the ability to govern." He added that the change also serves voters' interests by compelling parties and coalitions to clarify their government programs and name their candidates for prime minister "long before the elections."

This requirement may pose difficulties for the center-left, which remains divided on fundamental political issues and has not yet united behind a single leader. The opposition has pledged to vote against the amendment, which was already approved by the Senate and now requires consent from the Chamber of Deputies.

Chiara Braga, head of the Democratic Party bloc—the main opposition party—in the Chamber of Deputies, stated to AFP that the proposal "twists democratic rules to serve the interests of those in power."

Political Risks and Coalition Dynamics

Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party and its allies currently hold a parliamentary majority. Nevertheless, tensions have emerged within the coalition ahead of the next legislative elections. The vote scheduled for Thursday will be conducted via secret ballot, a procedure that could enable rebellious deputies to cast their votes against the reform.

Meloni has warned that she will resign if the reform is not passed. Yet analysts believe that lawmakers are unlikely to risk triggering immediate elections. Giovanni Orsina, a professor of political science at Luiss University in Rome, described the passage of the law as "highly likely."

Orsina noted that while "Meloni does not face significant risks" in the Chamber of Deputies vote, "the law creates a completely open landscape for competition, and therefore she is exposed to losing the elections."

Future Implications and Timeline

Under the proposed system, any coalition surpassing the 42 percent threshold automatically receives an extra 40 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 30 seats in the Senate. Achieving this percentage may prove difficult for either side.

Meloni became the longest-serving head of government in Italy’s history since World War II last month. However, her coalition is losing support to Roberto Vannacci, a former army general who leads the National Future party.

Meloni’s term officially ends in October 2027, but she may choose to advance the election date to April or May 2027. Opposition parties have already committed to challenging the new electoral law in court before that deadline.