Italian opposition cries foul as Meloni’s electoral reform passed in secret ballot

Original article by Angela Giuffrida in Rome

A controversial overhaul to electoral law that critics say is aimed at boosting Giorgia Meloni’s chances of clinging on to power in elections next year has been given final approval by the Italian parliament.

Meloni, the Italian prime minister, says the new system, which introduces a fully proportional model, including bonus seats for any coalition that wins the most votes, will bring about greater political stability, while opposition parties argue that it mainly serves the interests of those in power.

The change was passed in a secret ballot in the lower house with 227 MPs voting in favour and 164 against.

There were protests from opposition politicians who held up signs decrying the law as a “scam” and a “con” when the result was announced.

Opposition parties have vowed to challenge the changes in the constitutional court, arguing that the bonus seat element, which would be granted to any coalition that reaches a vote threshold of 42% of the vote, distorts voter representation.

Another contentious requirement of the changes is that parties and alliances would be required lay out their government programme and name their candidate for prime minister well before a general election.

Meloni, who leads the far-right Brothers of Italy, had made the vote a test for her ruling rightwing coalition, warning MPs from her allies, including Forza Italia and the League, that, if defeated, the government would face a crisis.

While there are tensions within the coalition, which has suffered setbacks in recent months and is under threat from the rise of new far-right rival Roberto Vannacci, leader of Futuro Nazionale, it has put on a show of unity and has stability on its side after becoming Italy’s longest serving government since the second world war in early September. Whereas the broad leftwing alliance, led by the Democratic party, is highly fractious with no clear leader or programme.

Meloni said the victory was a response to those who wanted to see her coalition divided. “Today we respond with action: we are united, cohesive and determined to fulfil the commitments made to citizens,” she wrote on social media.

Elly Schlein, the leader of the Democratic party, said Meloni’s alliance sought to change the electoral system because it feared losing the next general election, which is officially due to be held before October 2027 but could be brought forward to April or May.

According to a recent survey by Ipsos Doxa, the opposition coalition could reach the 42% threshold if it overcame internal divisions and managed to convince two small radical parties to join forces.