Politics

New Italian Law Would Grant Bonus Seats to Majority Winners, Raising Democratic Concerns

By Stephen Quillen

Italy’s parliament is set to vote on Thursday on a new electoral law that would give extra seats to any party or coalition that secures more than 42 percent of seats in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, ensuring it holds a majority. Proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the law replaces the current mixed “Rosatellum” system with a fully proportional one and could award up to 70 seats in the 400‑member lower house and up to 35 seats in the 200‑member Senate. If no coalition meets the 42‑percent threshold, representation would be decided proportionally. The bill also requires coalitions to announce their prime‑minister candidates before the elections. Critics argue the reform is undemocratic and could give a winning coalition disproportionate power. They also claim it is designed to boost Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party ahead of the next general election, which must be held by December 22, 2027, though the government may call an earlier vote. Current polls show Meloni’s coalition at 39 percent support, with the Democratic Party at 21 percent and the Five Star Movement at 12 percent. Opponents, including the More Europe party’s Riccardo Magi, have called the proposal an “anti‑democratic law.” The Senate has already approved the bill; it now faces a final secret‑ballot vote in the Chamber of Deputies. If the law fails, Meloni has said she will resign. The legislation remains controversial because the 42‑percent threshold is high, and if no coalition reaches it, a hung parliament could result, requiring post‑electoral negotiations to form a government.