Italy’s parliament gives final approval to Meloni’s electoral reform

Italy's parliament has officially approved a major electoral reform, granting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni a significant political win while paving the way for a potential constitutional showdown. Dubbed "Stabilicum" or "Melonellum" by supporters and "scam law" by critics, the proposal aims to bolster Italy's political system and bolster the electoral chances of the center-right coalition led by Meloni.

The reform introduces a "majority prize" that would award additional parliamentary seats to the winning coalition if it secures at least 42% of the national vote. This provision has drawn criticism from the center-left opposition, who argue that it violates constitutional principles and could distort voter representation. The opposition vows to contest the reform in Italy's Constitutional Court following its implementation.

The chamber of deputies approved the measure in a secret ballot, with 227 votes in favor to 164 against, marking the final parliamentary endorsement of the legislation after months of contentious debate. The reform seeks to replace Italy's current mixed electoral system, which allocates roughly a third of parliamentary seats through first-past-the-post constituencies, with a fully proportional system.

Proponents argue that the changes will simplify the process of identifying a governing coalition and reduce the post-election negotiations that have often resulted in fragile governments. However, the reform faces opposition within Meloni's own coalition, with some lawmakers expressing concerns that it could backfire as support for the nationalist National Future party could siphon votes from the governing bloc, making it more difficult to reach the required 42% threshold for the majority prize.