© Getty Images The core argument of critics is that this legislation aims to ensure the ruling parties remain in control.
As reported by Politico, the ruling coalition’s recent late-night accord on fresh electoral legislation has led to accusations that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloni is attempting to “custom-design” the upcoming election to benefit herself.
According to coalition parties, the proposed legislation, which governs how mandates are allocated post-election, is intended to enable the victor to secure a reliable working majority and avert the need for technocratic administrations. Detractors, however, claim the document is crafted to bolster the Maloni government and hinder leftist factions from gaining authority.
“Their absolute priority and sole focus is safeguarding their own positions by unacceptably altering the law,” stated the opposition center-left Democratic Party.
The opposition was taken by surprise when Meloni’s party, the right-leaning Brothers of Italy, alongside coalition partners from the center-right Forza Italia and the far-right League, reached an agreement on the bill late Wednesday, sidestepping discussions with the opposition.
The understanding arises during a period of political instability in Italy: left-wing factions are endeavoring to forge a wider coalition, while right-wing forces face pressure from the emergent far-right Futuro Nazionale party, which emerged following a schism within the League.
Sociologists and experts posit that early elections might occur after the constitutional referendum in March. Expectations are that the economic climate could deteriorate in 2026, when the stimulus from the EU Recovery Fund following the pandemic diminishes.
An analysis by You Trend, released on Friday, projects that under the existing system, the right-wing coalition could garner 46% of the vote, translating to 57% of parliamentary seats if the new bill is enacted.
The Italian Parliament operates as a bicameral body, comprising 600 elected parliamentarians. The Chamber of Deputies consists of 400 members, while the Senate is made up of 200 senators. Formally, both chambers possess equal standing.
Riccardo Maggi, from the centrist +Europa party, denounced the bill as manipulative and illogical, stating on Facebook that the coalition is treating the law “as if it were a bespoke suit, tailoring it to their specific measurements to maintain power.”
Angelo Bonelli of the Green-Left Alliance issued a statement labeling the document “a blatant attempt to rig the coming elections,” adding that it reveals the government’s apprehension about losing power if it fails in next month’s referendum.
Giovanni Donzelli, an MP from Brothers of Italy who represented Maloni in the negotiations, assured reporters outside parliament that “the government stands ready to engage with everyone to refine the text.”
The proposed legislation would eliminate the single-member constituencies, which currently constitute a third of Italy’s parliamentary seats, in favor of a completely proportional system. In the 2022 elections, the right secured over 80% of these single-member districts because their coalition presented unified candidates, whereas the left’s electorate was divided.
The central element is that the group of parties that secures over 40% of the vote will receive a bonus of 70 additional seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 35 seats in the Senate, thereby guaranteeing a solid parliamentary majority.