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Italy approved a fiercely contested Meloni-backed electoral overhaul on 8 October 2026, scrapping the current mixed system in favor of a fully proportional model that awards bonus seats to the coalition winning the most votes. The Chamber of Deputies passed the measure by secret ballot, 227 to 164, after weeks of protests from opposition parties who call the reform a 'scam' and have vowed to challenge it before the constitutional court. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni argues the change will deliver political stability ahead of elections due by October 2027, while critics say it distorts voter representation.
What is the new Italian electoral law?
Under the approved text, Italy moves from the hybrid Rosatellum system to a fully proportional system. Any party or coalition that wins at least 42% of the national vote in both chambers receives a majority bonus: up to 70 additional seats in the 400-member Chamber of Deputies and 35 in the 200-member Senate, capped at 220 and 113 seats respectively. Coalitions need 10% of the vote to enter parliament, while individual parties need 3%. The law also raises signature requirements for new parties from 1,500 to 6,000 and requires coalitions to name their prime ministerial candidate and government programme before election day.
Replacing the Rosatellum system
The previous Rosatellum, introduced in 2017, allocated about 37% of seats through first-past-the-post races and 63% proportionally. The new law eliminates single-member constituencies and makes every seat proportional, a shift Meloni's government says will end fragmented parliaments. Analysts note the bonus mechanism resembles earlier systems struck down by the Italian constitutional court in 2014 and 2017 for giving excessive advantages to winners.
Bonus seats: how they work
| Rule | Rosatellum (old) | New proportional law |
|---|---|---|
| System | Mixed: 37% FPTP, 63% proportional | Fully proportional |
| Majority bonus | None | Up to 70 Chamber / 35 Senate seats for coalition winning 42%+ |
| Thresholds | 3% parties, 10% coalitions | 3% parties, 10% coalitions |
| PM candidate | Not required before election | Must be named in advance |
Why did Meloni push the reform?
Meloni says the overhaul is a recipe for stable government in a country that has had nearly 70 governments since 1946. Her rightwing coalition, which won the 2022 election under the Rosatellum, is trailing in some 2026 polls, and the bonus seats could secure a parliamentary majority for whichever bloc crosses 42%. This law finally puts an end to the instability that has paralysed Italy for decades, Meloni told lawmakers before the vote. She had also signalled she would resign if the measure failed, raising the stakes in the Giorgia Meloni political career.
Opposition backlash and legal challenge
Opposition parties, led by Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein, held up signs reading 'scam' during the vote and accused Meloni of changing the rules out of fear of losing next year's election. They are rewriting the electoral system to cling to power, Schlein said. Critics argue the 42% threshold is too low and that the bonus distorts the principle of one person, one vote. Constitutional experts point out that the Italian electoral law history already includes two majority-bonus laws struck down by the court, and Schlein's PD says it will file a challenge immediately.
What it means for the 2027 election
The next general election must be held by October 2027, but many analysts expect an earlier vote in April or May 2026. If the law survives legal review, the campaign will be transformed: coalitions must present a named prime ministerial candidate and programme months in advance. Some analysts caution the bonus could backfire, potentially handing a centre-left bloc a majority if it reaches 42%. The reform also reshapes the 2027 Italian election landscape by favouring broad coalitions over single parties, with implications for Italy coalition politics.
FAQ
What does Italy's new electoral law do?
It replaces the mixed Rosatellum system with a fully proportional system and awards bonus seats to any coalition winning at least 42% of the vote in both chambers.
How many bonus seats are awarded?
Up to 70 in the 400-member Chamber and 35 in the 200-member Senate, capped at 220 and 113 seats respectively.
Why are opposition parties challenging the law?
They argue the bonus distorts voter representation. Italy's constitutional court has previously struck down similar majority-bonus systems.
When will Italy's next election take place?
It must be held by October 2027, but many analysts expect an earlier vote in April or May 2026.
Who voted for the reform?
The Chamber of Deputies approved it by secret ballot, 227-164, on 8 October 2026, following Senate approval.
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