Italy's Chamber of Deputies Approves Electoral Reform Bill

During a busy parliamentary week on 14‑16 July 2026, Italy’s Chamber of Deputies gave a first reading to the government’s electoral reform bill. A secret‑ballot vote on an amendment proposing preferential voting (presented by Galeazzo Bignami, FdI) was narrowly defeated, 188‑187, highlighting dissent within the ruling coalition. The Chamber subsequently approved articles 1 and 2 of the draft, and endorsed a sub‑amendment expanding voting rights for Italians residing abroad. An amendment from the Futuro Nazionale group to re‑introduce preferences was also rejected.

The final vote on the bill’s text recorded 217 votes in favour, 152 against and two abstentions. The reform, which retains a blocked‑list system, introduces a sizable majority prize and designates a “premier” on the ballot – provisions that have drawn criticism from opposition parties and some coalition partners. With the Chamber’s approval, the proposal now moves to the Senate for a second reading, where further debate on the preference system and constitutional concerns is expected.

In the same legislative session, the Council of Ministers also passed a security‑focused draft law introducing preventive detention for minors deemed dangerous and granting police the authority to forbid gatherings of certain groups, underscoring the government’s broader agenda for public order.