Italy overhauls electoral system after fiercely contested debate
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says the move will deliver more stable government, but opposition parties say her aim is to stay in power.
Italy revamps electoral rules after intense parliamentary clash
Opposition parties say the change is meant to keep Meloni's right-wing coalition in power
Italy's parliament has approved hard-fought changes to the country's electoral system, backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ahead of elections expected next year.
Lawmakers voted 227 to 164 to adopt a fully proportional system, which Meloni says will increase the likelihood of clear winners and a more stable government.
Opposition parties argue that her right-wing coalition shaped the proposals to strengthen its chances of staying in power and, during a heated debate on Thursday, accused it of undermining democracy.
Meloni had warned that she could resign and force an early election if the plans were defeated, with the secret ballot viewed as a test of her authority.
Meloni's coalition has presided over a rare stretch of political stability in Italy since her 2022 election, and last month her government became the country's longest-serving since World War Two.
The reform will move the country away from its current hybrid voting system, under which about a third of lawmakers are elected by first-past-the-post and the remainder through proportional representation.
Parties seeking to form a coalition will have to present their joint candidate for prime minister, along with their political programme, before any general election.
Any coalition or party that wins more than 42% of the vote will receive dozens of extra seats in parliament, which could convert a narrow win into a more comfortable majority.
In the debate before the vote, centre-left lawmakers accused the government of pushing through the new voting rules.
"Go ahead and change the electoral law, we will win in any case under any voting system," said Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein.
The proposals have also laid bare tensions inside Meloni's coalition, including the Brothers of Italy (FdI) party and its allies, the far-right League and centre-right Forza Italia.
Analysts had expected Thursday's final vote to pass, especially given the number of lawmakers who would risk losing eligibility for a parliamentary pension if their term ended early because of the threatened snap election.
"To those who hoped to see the centre-right divided," Meloni wrote on social media after the vote, "today we respond with facts: we are united, cohesive, and determined to carry forward the commitments made to citizens."
She added: "We are introducing rules designed to promote the stability and parliamentary coherence of any government, regardless of its political colour."
Meloni's term is officially due to end in October 2027, though she could bring elections forward to the spring.