Politics

Meloni Passes Proportional‑Only Electoral Reform with Bonus Seats

By Vighnesh P. Venkitesh

With just over a year until the coalition government must step down for election, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has secured parliamentary approval for reforms that will replace the current hybrid system with a fully proportional representation model. The new rules, adopted in a secret ballot on 8 October 2026 with 227 votes for and 164 against, eliminate the 36 % of seats that were previously awarded through first‑past‑the‑post contests and apply proportional representation to all 400 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and all 200 seats in the Senate.

Under the new system, a party or coalition that receives at least 42 % of the vote will be awarded up to 70 bonus seats in the Chamber and 35 in the Senate, ensuring a majority government if the vote is decisive. If more than one group surpasses the 42 % threshold, the bonus goes to the group with the highest vote share. The bonus is capped so that no party or coalition can obtain more than 220 seats in the Chamber or 113 in the Senate.

Entry thresholds have also been tightened: coalitions must secure at least 10 % of the vote and individual parties at least 3 % to qualify for seat allocation. The number of signatures required for new parties or those not currently represented in parliament has risen from 1,500 to 6,000.

Meloni, who has described the reforms as a “revolution” that will bring stability, said that the bonus seats would give popular coalitions the majority needed to govern effectively. Senior party leader Giovanni Donzelli told AFP that the changes will give Italians real influence over the coalition, platform and prime minister.

Opposition leaders have criticized the reforms as a “mess” and a “convoluted scheme” designed to secure an advantage for the ruling coalition. Former Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte of the Five‑Star Movement called the changes a formula to gain an advantage in the upcoming elections. The rise of the far‑right National Future party, led by former General Roberto Vannacci, is also eroding Meloni’s vote base, making an outright majority for her coalition in the next general election unlikely.

Opposition parties plan to challenge the reforms in court, arguing that many provisions could be struck down. If successful, the ruling coalition might consider calling a snap election.

Published – 9 October 2026 09:52 am IST