Italy’s Chamber of Deputies approved Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s electoral reform in Rome on October 8 by 227 votes to 164, the chamber confirmed. The final parliamentary vote sets new rules ahead of a general election due in 2027. Reuters reported that the ballot was secret.
The reform replaces a mixed system with proportional representation and a majority bonus. Previously, roughly two-thirds of lawmakers were elected proportionally and one-third in single-member constituencies. According to Reuters, an alliance exceeding 42% of the vote will qualify for additional seats; if several pass that threshold, the largest wins the bonus.
Reuters’ factbox says the award is 70 seats in the 400-member Chamber and 35 in the 200-member Senate. Limits prevent the bonus from taking the winner above 220 deputies and 113 senators. Coalitions need 10% of votes to enter parliament, while individual parties, including those within alliances, need 3%.
Coalitions and parties running independently must name a candidate for prime minister before the election, Reuters reported. That designation is not legally binding because the president retains the constitutional power to select the prime minister. Parties outside parliament must collect 6,000 signatures per constituency to field candidates, up from 1,500.
Meloni argues that the changes will make governments more stable and parliamentary majorities more cohesive, according to Reuters. The centre-left opposition says they seek to improve her chances of remaining in power. AP reported that opponents plan a constitutional challenge, arguing that the majority bonus distorts representation; these are their objections, not a court ruling.
Reuters also reported a compromise on candidate preferences: people heading party lists retain priority, preserving party leaders’ influence over who enters parliament. Attention now turns to preparations for the next election and the opposition’s promised legal challenge. AP said a successful challenge could require the government to revise the rules before voters return to the polls.
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