Italy's electoral law sparks criticism across the political spectrum

Italy’s new electoral law was approved by the Chamber, prompting varied reactions from major political figures. Former centre‑right leader Marco Follini warned that both the right and the left are "complicit" in hoping for a “vote against” effect, citing the recent secret preference vote that exposed fractures within the centre‑right coalition. He described the internal disputes as a “circulus vizio‑so” and highlighted how the secret ballot revealed the fragility of the bloc’s unity.

Vice‑premier and Forza Italia secretary Antonio Tajani downplayed the controversy, stating that the most important outcome was the law’s passage and that there was no risk of a government crisis. He referred to the debate over a gender‑quota amendment and the possibility of re‑introducing a preference vote as “a storm in a glass of water.”

Economist Luigi Marattin added that the law’s design, which awards a majority bonus at a 40 % threshold, could cement a bipolar party system and limit voter choice, warning that it may entrench the existing political divide.