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Italy’s Lower House Sets Vote on Rule Overhaul to Curb Party-Switching

Implementation is slated for the next legislature to curb switching through funding caps with forfeiture of posts.

Overview

  • The package heads to the floor Monday, 16 February for general debate with a potential vote Tuesday, requiring an absolute majority of deputies.
  • Deputies who change groups would transfer only 50% of their funding quota to the new group, with the remainder staying with their original group.
  • A switch would trigger automatic loss of offices in the Chamber’s presidency and in committee presidencies, with the Speaker excluded from forfeiture.
  • The funding penalty would not apply when at least seven deputies move together in a split recognized as political by House rapporteurs.
  • The reform also removes the 24‑hour wait before confidence votes, streamlines timelines for urgent bills, strengthens opposition guarantees, and moves forward as the League prepares a separate bid to amend Article 67 to introduce a binding mandate.