ROME — Italy’s lower house of parliament gave final approval on Thursday to a fiercely contested electoral reform championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni which provides the framework for a national election due next year, reports BritPanorama.
Meloni asserts that the new rules aim to enhance the likelihood of stable government. In contrast, the centre-left opposition argues that the ultimate goal is to improve her prospects of retaining power.
In a secret ballot, lawmakers endorsed the bill by 227 votes to 164, introducing a fully proportional electoral system (PR), alongside a seat bonus that guarantees a parliamentary majority to any alliance achieving over 42% of the vote.
Previously, about two-thirds of lawmakers were elected via PR, with the remainder chosen through first-past-the-post constituencies, a system analysts contend may have favoured the opposition.
Rules ‘designed to promote stability’
“We are introducing rules designed to promote the stability and parliamentary cohesion of any government,” Meloni posted on X after the vote. “Whoever wins must be able to govern.”
Initially, when the reform was conceived, her rightist bloc led in opinion polls; critics claimed the changes were intended to secure her a substantial majority after the upcoming election.
However, since February, the rise of a new far-right party, National Future, has dilapidated support for the ruling coalition.
Current polls indicate the coalition is trailing the centre-left, with some analysts suggesting that the electoral reform may backfire on Meloni, whose government celebrated nearly four years in power last month, making it the longest-lasting in Italy since World War Two.
During a heated debate, centre-left lawmakers accused the government of undermining democracy by imposing the new rules ahead of the election, disregarding the will of the opposition.
“Go ahead and change the electoral law, we will win in any case under any voting system,” asserted Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein.
