Italian Senate Approves Contested Electoral Law Reform

The Italian Senate approved a contested reform of the national electoral law on September 15, passing the measure with a 113-71 vote. Proposed by Giorgia Meloni and her conservative coalition, the reform replaces the existing mixed system with a fully proportional voting system. Under the new rules, any alliance winning more than 42% of the vote is granted a parliamentary majority.

The legislation requires alliances to name a prime ministerial candidate before the election and includes preferential voting, a provision that the lower house had previously rejected in a secret ballot in July. The measure now returns to the lower house for final approval.

Meloni and her coalition argue the changes will ensure political stability. However, opposition leaders, including Matteo Renzi, claim the Prime Minister is altering the rules to secure her own re-election in the coming year. Renzi characterized the move as a strategic attempt to avoid electoral loss rather than a pursuit of stability.