Morning Edition · Fri 9 Oct 2026
Italy's Parliament Passes Meloni's Electoral Reform in Confidence Vote
Italy's Chamber of Deputies approved Meloni's electoral reform by 227 to 164 votes on Thursday, marking the unofficial start of the 2027 election campaign, according to Euronews.
Chanan Zevin - Chief Editor and Head of Desks
Published
Chamber of Deputies Passes Reform in Secret Ballot
Italy's Chamber of Deputies passed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's electoral reform by 227 votes to 164 on Thursday, according to Euronews. The legislation, formally known as the Stabilicum and dubbed the Melonellum by opposition parties, was approved in a secret ballot after a series of confidence votes. This passage sets the stage for the next general election, scheduled for 2027.
The government used the confidence vote mechanism to accelerate the legislative process and restrict debate. Under this procedure, MPs were required to vote on the government's text without amendments. Euronews reported that if the Chamber had rejected the final vote, the text would have been dismissed, though the cabinet would not have been formally obliged to resign.
Key Features of the New Electoral Law
The reform introduces preference voting alongside blocked list leaders and raises the signature threshold for parties without parliamentary representation from 1,500 to 6,000, according to Euronews. Amendments also address gender representation and provide the right to vote for people living away from their registered place of residence. The law was approved after the third parliamentary reading, following amendments passed by the Senate.
Article 8 of the law introduces the right to vote for citizens living away from their registered residence, a change anticipated by many. The signature threshold increase is designed to limit the proliferation of minor parties, while the gender representation amendments aim to address ongoing concerns about equality in candidate selection.
Opposition Protests and Political Reactions
The vote was marked by vocal opposition protests. During the session, opposition MPs displayed placards with slogans such as 'Rigged law', 'No to the fix', and 'With Meloni diesel at 3 euros', according to Euronews. Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein criticized the reform, arguing it was designed to protect incumbents rather than serve voters. Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte claimed the law was crafted to secure victory for the current ruling coalition.
Prime Minister Meloni responded to criticism by emphasizing the unity of the centre-right coalition. On social media, she stated, 'To those who hoped to see the centre-right split, today we answer with facts: we are united, solid and determined to carry forward the commitments made to citizens.'
Constitutional Court Concerns and Legal Hurdles
Despite the government's success in passing the reform, Euronews noted ongoing concerns about its constitutionality. The opposition has identified three elements they believe could be challenged in the Constitutional Court: the majority bonus in the Senate, the requirement for parties without an established ballot logo to gather 300,000 signatures, and the absence of a mandate that at least 40 percent of lead candidates be women.
If the Constitutional Court were to overturn any part of the reform, it could complicate the government's electoral strategy and expose the ruling coalition to criticism during the campaign. Critics argue that the law could potentially leave Italy in political deadlock if not properly addressed.
Why the Reform Matters for Italy's Political Landscape
The passage of the electoral reform has immediate implications for Italy's political alliances and the timing of the next election. According to Euronews, while speculation about an early election is circulating, Italian political history and pension rules for first-term MPs make a vote before 14 April 2027 unlikely. On that date, first-term MPs become entitled to a parliamentary pension, a factor that typically discourages early dissolution.
For policymakers and markets, the reform signals a period of intensified political maneuvering as parties adjust to the new rules. The possibility of Constitutional Court intervention adds further uncertainty to Italy's pre-election environment, potentially affecting coalition strategies and voter confidence.