Italy overhauls electoral system after fiercely contested debate
Summary
Italy’s parliament approved a change to the country’s voting system before elections next year. The new system is fully proportional, aiming to create clearer winners and more stable governments, but opposition parties say it favors Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition.Key Facts
- Italy’s parliament voted 227 to 164 to switch to a fully proportional voting system.
- The current system mixes first-past-the-post voting with proportional representation.
- Under the new rules, parties forming coalitions must name their prime minister candidate and political program before elections.
- Coalitions or parties winning more than 42% of votes will get extra seats in parliament for a stronger majority.
- Prime Minister Meloni warned she might resign and call early elections if the changes were rejected.
- The new law has caused debate and tension within Meloni’s coalition and faced opposition criticism.
- Meloni’s government is the longest-lasting in Italy since World War Two.
- Elections are scheduled for 2027 but could happen earlier if Meloni calls them.
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