Italy Electoral Reform Approved Amid Row 2026

Italy Approves Electoral Reform As Opposition Accuses Meloni Of Rigging The Rules

October 12, 2026

3 minute read

Italy electoral reform cleared parliament after lawmakers voted 227 to 164 to move to a fully proportional system. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has argued that the change will create clearer winners and more stable government ahead of elections due next year.

Italy Electoral Reform Passes Parliament Amid Fierce Debate

Opposition parties say the proposals are designed to help her right-wing coalition keep power, and accused her in a heated debate of pushing through a fraudulent reform. Meloni had warned that she could resign and trigger an early election if the plans failed, and the secret ballot was seen as a test of her authority.

How the New Voting Rules Will Work

The country will move away from its hybrid system, in which about a third of members are chosen through first-past-the-post voting and the rest through proportional representation. Coalitions will have to name a joint candidate for prime minister and publish their programme before any general election.

A party or coalition with the largest vote share, provided it exceeds 42%, will receive 105 additional seats, with 70 in the lower house and 35 in the Senate. The bonus could turn a narrow victory into a comfortable majority.

Political Stability and Its Wider Relevance

Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein said the opposition would win under any system, while Five Star leader Giuseppe Conte described the plan as a convoluted scheme. Meloni said the rules promote stability and parliamentary coherence for any government, and her coalition recently became the longest-running in Italy since World War Two.

Stable governance in Rome matters for partners such as Pakistan, with ties described by Italy’s ambassador as being at an all-time high in Italy, Pakistan ties at an all-time high: Ambassador. Predictable policymaking in Italy would support continued trade and investment opportunities for both countries, with Meloni’s term due to end in October 2027 and elections possible in spring.