Inside Italy's Controversial Electoral Law: Why Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Bonus Seat Proposal Is Sparking Outrage

Italy’s parliament is voting on Thursday on a new electoral law proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that would make it easier for election winners to form a majority government. The legislation would award extra seats to any party or coalition that obtains more than 42 percent of seats in both parliamentary chambers, ensuring it holds a majority. While Meloni has framed the legislation as a route to greater stability in Italy’s political system, critics argue the move is aimed at boosting her own chances in elections next year.

What is Italy’s current electoral system? Italy currently has a mixed electoral system for its 600-seat parliament, known as “Rosatellum”, with about 36 percent of members of parliament elected directly in constituencies where the candidate with the most votes wins, and the rest decided through proportional representation. While it encourages coalition-building, the system can produce fractured results that make a governing majority hard to forge.

The new legislation would replace the mixed electoral system with a fully proportional one, awarding up to 70 extra seats in the 400-member Chamber of Deputies and up to 35 seats in the Senate to the party or coalition that wins the most seats and secures at least 42 percent in both chambers. If no party or coalition meets the threshold, representation would be decided proportionally. The law would also force coalitions to announce their candidates for prime minister before the elections, a provision Rado Fonda of the SWG pollster noted could expose divisions for the centre-left. Meloni has defended the reform, stating it will help stabilise the country.

The proposed law has already been approved by the Senate and faces a final secret-ballot vote in the Chamber of Deputies, which political scientist Giovanni Orsina predicted is extremely likely to pass. However, opponents like Riccardo Magi and Senator Matteo Renzi have slammed the legislation as undemocratic and designed to favour Meloni. Other experts, such as Vincenzo Emanuele, warn the law could still lead to a hung parliament if no group reaches the high 42 percent threshold.

Italy’s next general election must be held by December 22, 2027, although the government can call elections earlier. Current polls show Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party (Fdl) leading with 27 percent support, alongside coalition partners Lega and Forza Italia, though analysts note the new electoral rules might not inherently favour the incumbent government and could even benefit the opposition depending on coalition formations.