Italy's center-right pursues electoral reform amid rising political competition

The Italian center-right coalition is pursuing an electoral reform, colloquially referred to as the ‘Melonellum’, aimed at securing victory in the 2027 elections. The proposed law seeks to provide greater government stability and prevent the political volatility seen in previous years, moving away from the current Rosatellum system.

However, the reform process has faced significant internal tensions and shifts. The coalition has struggled with various technical models, including debates over run-off elections and voter preferences, often reacting to changing polling data. This situational approach has led to criticisms that the reform is deviating from its original purpose of ensuring stability.

Political pressure is mounting as the coalition faces rising competition from Futuro Nazionale, which has reached nearly 8% in recent polls. Additionally, the governing coalition has seen a decline in support for Fratelli d'Italia and the Lega, while Forza Italia has maintained its voter base. Analysts suggest that technical electoral engineering may be insufficient to address these underlying political shifts and the loss of conservative voters.