Overview
- The Chamber of Deputies approved the reform on Thursday, July 16, by 217 votes to 152 with two abstentions and forwarded the bill to the Senate for final approval.
- The proposal would replace the mixed system by removing first‑past‑the‑post districts and assigning all seats by proportional share of the vote.
- Under the plan a coalition that wins over 42% would receive a bonus of 70 seats in the 400‑member lower house and 35 seats in the 200‑member Senate, with caps to limit total representation.
- Parliamentary debate exposed cracks in Meloni’s ruling coalition after lawmakers defeated a government amendment in a secret ballot by one vote, suggesting internal defections.
- A rising far‑right party led by Roberto Vannacci, polling around 6%, could alter how the new rules translate into seats and will be a key factor as parties position ahead of the Senate vote and next election.