Full Breakdown
Italy’s Lower House Advances Contested Electoral Reform
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Parliamentary Vote Advances Meloni’s Reform Plan
On October 6, 2026, the Chamber of Deputies approved the first articles of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s electoral reform in two confidence votes. The second vote recorded 227 votes in favour, 149 against and three abstentions. The first vote passed by a similarly comfortable margin. The reform now moves toward a final secret-ballot vote scheduled for the following Thursday.
Core Provisions of the Reform
The bill replaces Italy’s mixed system with a fully proportional electoral model. It introduces a majority premium: any alliance that secures more than 42 % of the national vote receives a fixed seat bonus—70 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 35 in the Senate—guaranteeing a parliamentary majority. If no bloc reaches the 42 % threshold, the premium is deactivated and seats are allocated proportionally among parties surpassing a 3 % threshold. The reform also abolishes single-member constituencies, substituting them with multi-member districts and a closed-list system in which voters choose only a party or coalition, not individual candidates.
Political Stakes and Reactions
Meloni has framed the reform as a means to curb frequent government turnovers and stabilize the right-wing coalition that must face a national election by the end of 2027. Critics, however, label the proposal “Melonellum,” arguing it is designed to entrench Meloni’s hold on power. The Prime Minister has indicated she could resign should the legislation be rejected, underscoring the reform’s role as a de-facto test of her government’s durability.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Two sources differ on the exact vote tally. One account cites 227-149-3 in favour, against, and abstentions, while another reports 226-147-3. Both agree the reform passed comfortably, but the discrepancy highlights a lack of a definitive official record in the available reports. No detailed breakdown of party-by-party voting behavior has been released.
Next Steps
The Chamber is set to hold a secret ballot on Thursday to decide the full text. If approved, the law would be enacted before the anticipated election, potentially shaping the composition of Italy’s parliament for the next electoral cycle. Should the reform fail, analysts suggest an early election could be triggered.