Meloni's electoral reform moves closer to approval as general election looms

The Italian government is pressing ahead with a long-planned overhaul of the country's electoral system, which is on track to be approved in the coming months, according to a report from The Local Italy. The reform, which has been under discussion since Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took office, aims to change the way seats are allocated in the bicameral parliament and could take effect before the next general election.

Foreign press coverage notes that Italy's voting system has been changed repeatedly over the past three decades, contributing to an environment of political instability that has often frustrated European Union partners. The current system is a mixed model combining proportional representation with a majority bonus for the largest coalition, but critics argue it has failed to produce durable governments. The proposed overhaul, whose specific provisions remain under negotiation, is expected to shift the balance of power toward larger parties or coalitions, potentially making governing coalitions more stable.

The reform comes as Italy prepares for a general election that must be held by early 2028 but could come sooner if the current coalition fractures. Foreign observers watching Italian politics have noted that any change to the electoral law will be closely scrutinised by Brussels, as Italy's government stability is a key factor in the credibility of its economic and fiscal commitments under EU rules. The European Commission has repeatedly called for structural reforms to improve Italy's long-term growth prospects, and electoral reform is seen as part of that broader agenda.

Italy's history of frequent electoral law changes has drawn criticism from international commentators as a symptom of a political system that prioritises short-term advantage over institutional continuity. Since the collapse of the First Republic in the early 1990s, Italy has adopted at least five different electoral systems at the national level, each designed by the ruling majority to favour its own prospects. The current reform effort, initiated by Meloni's right-wing coalition, is similarly viewed by some analysts as an attempt to entrench the governing parties' position ahead of the next vote.

The reform's path through parliament remains uncertain, even as the government signals its intention to finalise the text before the end of the year. The bill must be approved by both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, and opposition parties have already criticised the lack of cross-party consultation. If passed, the new system would apply to the next general election, which according to the foreign press is widely expected within the next 18 to 24 months. Political commentators in the international wire have pointed out that any change made close to an election risks being branded as partisan, a charge that has been levelled at previous reforms in Italy and other European democracies.

From an EU perspective, a more stable Italian government could enhance Italy's ability to implement long-term reforms and honour its commitments under the bloc's fiscal rules and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. However, the reform could also centralise power in the executive, a trend that some European partners view with caution. The international coverage of this story reflects a broader interest in how Italy manages its perennial political volatility, as the country remains one of the EU's largest economies and a founding member of the eurozone. The outcome of the electoral reform process will therefore be watched not only by Italian voters but by policymakers in other capitals who depend on Rome's reliability as a partner.