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Italy’s Chamber of Deputies gave final approval on Thursday to a contested electoral reform backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, voting 227 to 164, public broadcaster Rai reported.
The lower house passed the legislation in a secret ballot at its third reading, after amendments had been adopted by the Senate.
Meloni welcomed the vote, describing it as a sign of unity within her ruling centre-right coalition. In a post on “X”, she said the coalition was united and determined to fulfil its commitments to voters.
The reform introduces a proportional electoral system with a seat bonus for the leading political force or coalition if it secures at least 42% of the vote. Coalitions will also have to name their candidate for prime minister before the election.
The changes would restore preferential voting while retaining party-selected candidates at the top of electoral lists. They also include provisions allowing people voting away from their registered place of residence, including family caregivers, to cast ballots.
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani said the result showed the governing majority remained solid and intended to seek another five years in office.
Opposition parties criticised the rules on candidate selection and women’s representation. Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein said fewer than one in five lawmakers would be elected through preferential votes, arguing that party-selected list leaders would restrict voters’ choices.
Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte also argued that party leaderships would determine more than 80% of the next parliament’s membership. He warned that all the candidates placed at the top of party lists could be men.
A network opposing the reform has said it plans to bring legal challenges once the legislation takes effect, seeking to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court.
