Italy: Senate Approves Meloni’s Electoral Reform Amid Opposition Outcry

Italy’s Senate today approved a contested reform of the electoral law, despite fierce opposition, according to Reuters.

Political opponents accused Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of changing the electoral rules to increase her chances of winning a new term in next year’s elections.

Meloni’s conservative coalition, which includes Brothers of Italy, the League and Forza Italia, has proposed a fully proportional system that would guarantee a parliamentary majority to any alliance winning more than 42% of the vote.

The reform still needs final approval from the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Italy’s parliament.

Under the current system, most deputies and senators are elected through proportional representation, while a third of them are elected in electoral districts where the candidate with the most votes wins.

Analysts estimate this method could favor the center-left opposition.

The reform aims to remove the single-member district system and introduce a fully proportional model, accompanied by a seat bonus for the alliance crossing the 42% vote threshold.

The governing coalition argues the change would guarantee political stability in a country known for short-lived governments. Meloni took office in 2022 and this month became the prime minister to have led Italy’s longest-serving government since World War II.