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Italy's Parliament approves new electoral reform with majority bonus
The Italian Chamber of Deputies has passed a major electoral reform, dubbed “Stabilicum” by supporters and “Melonellum” by critics, with a final vote of 227 in favor and 164 against. The new law transitions Italy to a proportional electoral system but includes a significant majority bonus. Any coalition that secures at least 42% of the national vote will be awarded an additional 70 seats in the Chamber and 35 in the Senate.
The reform also reintroduces a limited form of preference voting, allowing citizens to choose up to three candidates from a list of six below a blocked head of the list. Additionally, the law expands voting rights for students, workers, and caregivers who are temporarily residing outside their home municipalities.
Opposition parties have strongly condemned the measure, labeling it a “fraudulent law” designed to consolidate power and reduce political pluralism. Critics specifically pointed to the removal of gender parity mechanisms and the increased signature requirements for new parties. Legal challenges are expected, with opposition groups and constitutional experts preparing to file appeals with the Constitutional Court to contest the law's legitimacy.
Entities
Chamber of Deputies · Constitutional Court · Constitutional Court of Italy · Democratic Party · Elly Schlein · Fratelli d'Italia · Giorgia Meloni · Italian Chamber of Deputies · Italian Parliament · Italy · Senate · Senate of the Republic
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 13 SOURCES] The government has placed a vote of confidence on the first three articles of the electoral reform bill. www.publicpolicy.net · www.opinione.it · www.ilriformista.it
- [● 6 SOURCES] The reform increases the number of signatures required for parties not currently represented in Parliament to present lists. www.ilriformista.it
- [● 4 SOURCES] The reform includes a majority premium for parties obtaining at least 42% of the votes in both houses. www.ilriformista.it
- [● 4 SOURCES] The reform includes provisions for extending out-of-residence voting to caregivers. www.publicpolicy.net · www.ilriformista.it
- [● 11 SOURCES] The reform reintroduces the use of preferences for electing members of Parliament. www.ilriformista.it · www.publicpolicy.net
- [DISPUTED] The final vote on the electoral reform is scheduled for Thursday, October 8. www.publicpolicy.net · www.opinione.it · www.ilriformista.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the reform as essential for ensuring national stability. www.opinione.it
- [● 7 SOURCES] Opposition parties have criticized the use of the confidence motion as an attack on parliamentary prerogatives. www.ilriformista.it · www.opinione.it
- [● 9 SOURCES] The opposition accuses Meloni of tailoring the law to benefit herself and her party, Fratelli d'Italia. www.t-online.de · anlatilaninotesi.com.tr · www.cash.ch · n1info.rs · www.gazetezebra.com.tr · +1 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] The Senate approved the electoral reform plan in mid-September. www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.marler-zeitung.de · www.diepresse.com · www.zeit.de · +2 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Failure of the reform in Parliament could lead to the government not continuing and potentially triggering early elections. www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.cash.ch · www.zeit.de · www.tagesschau.de
- [● 19 SOURCES] A winning party or coalition would receive a majority bonus if it secures at least 42 percent of the votes. www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.t-online.de · www.marler-zeitung.de · www.diepresse.com · +7 more