Italy’s Parliament gives final approval to Giorgia Meloni’s electoral reform

Italy’s Parliament gave final approval Thursday to a sweeping overhaul of the country’s electoral system, handing Premier Giorgia Meloni a key political victory while setting up a likely constitutional battle over the reform.

The proposal — dubbed by supporters and critics alike the “Stabilicum” or “Melonellum” — is widely viewed as an attempt to strengthen Italy’s political system while improving the electoral prospects of the centre-right coalition led by Meloni, which last month celebrated its record as Italy’s longest-serving Government since WWII.

Supporters say the law is designed to produce clearer election winners and more stable governments in a country known for frequent changes of administration. But the centre-left opposition dubbed it “scam law,” arguing the reform is unconstitutional. It has pledged to challenge it and bring it in front of Italy’s Constitutional Court once it takes effect.

The Chamber of Deputies approved the measure in a secret ballot by 227 votes to 164, giving definitive parliamentary approval to the legislation after months of heated debate.The reform introduces a big majority prize that will award bonus parliamentary seats in both houses of parliament to the winning pre-election alliance, provided it wins at least 42 per cent of the national vote.

Critics contend that such a “majority prize” distorts voter representation and could conflict with previous court rulings that struck down elements of earlier electoral laws. A successful challenge could force Meloni’s conservative Government to revise the system before the next general election.

The new law abolishes Italy’s current mixed electoral system, in which about one-third of parliamentary seats are elected in first-past-the-post constituencies, and replaces it with a fully proportional system.

Meloni’s coalition says the changes will make it easier for voters to identify a governing coalition before elections and reduce the post-election bargaining that has often produced fragile governments. To qualify for the majority prize, parties will have to agree on a common prime ministerial candidate and political platform before the election.