Italy's electoral law debate spotlights coalition weakness

Political analyst Marco Follini warned that the main weakness of Italy’s current political system lies in its coalitions. As the legislative term ends, the governing majority is pushing for a new electoral law, while the opposition may seek to correct or undermine the proposal. Follini noted that since the 2006 reform, parties have increasingly relied on coalition arrangements, creating a de‑facto “premierate” that benefits incumbent leaders but strains party cohesion. He argued that the Constitution envisions a pure parliamentary system, yet decades of practice have shifted focus to coalition leaders, making alliances vulnerable to shifting calculations of convenience and the erosion of party structures. Follini called for a return to a proportional system that strengthens individual parties rather than relying on unstable coalitions.