Italy advances contested electoral law reform

Italy's Parliament is preparing to vote on a new electoral law that would reshape the country’s system of representation. The draft, scheduled for debate on 26 June, proposes a 42 % majority bonus for any coalition or party reaching that threshold, replacing the current mix of proportional seats and single‑member constituencies with fully blocked lists at both regional and national levels. Proponents argue the changes will strengthen governability and reduce the chronic fragmentation of Italian politics.

Opponents, including a coalition of 158 constitutional scholars, warn the proposal may breach constitutional principles of vote equality and the balance of powers. They point to the mandatory inclusion of a prime‑ministerial candidate in coalition programmes as a potential infringement on the President’s prerogatives under article 92 of the Constitution. Critics also fear the abolition of single‑member districts could create “invisible” parliamentarians elected solely through the bonus, diluting direct voter representation.

The reform, the fifth major overhaul in the past three decades, is expected to generate intense parliamentary debate, with the governing majority emphasizing stability while the opposition warns of concentration of power and reduced representation for smaller parties.