Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pushes new electoral law with majority bonus

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is targeting a September vote on a new Italian electoral law that would introduce a proportional system with a majority prize. Under the proposal, any coalition obtaining more than 42 % of the vote would receive a bonus of 70 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 35 in the Senate, while party lists would be fixed and votes cast without preferential choices. The reform aims to enable an early election on 11 April, ahead of the regular schedule.

In the region of Molise the law would apply a pure proportional allocation, leaving its four seats unchanged. Analysts note that within the centre‑right coalition the Fratelli d'Italia party is favoured, while the centre‑left bloc is expected to be led by the Democratic Party, with the Five Star Movement excluded. The change is seen as Meloni’s main political priority to preserve her government’s grip on power ahead of the next legislative elections, confronting the current mixed system (67 % proportional, 31 % majoritarian, 2 % abroad) and a reduced parliament of 400 deputies and 200 senators.