Italy's Chamber of Deputies on Thursday approved a new electoral law, a key victory for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, setting the stage for the next general election due in 2027. The legislation, formally known as the Stabilicum but dubbed the "Melonellum" by opposition parties, passed by 227 votes to 164 in a secret ballot.
The vote effectively kicks off the election campaign, even though the current legislature runs until September 2027. Speculation about an early vote is already circulating in Rome's political corridors, but as analysts note, a snap election before 14 April 2027 remains unlikely due to parliamentary pension rules.
Alliances and opposition divisions
The immediate political battle now shifts to coalition-building. Meloni has so far ruled out an alliance with National Future, the party of MEP Roberto Vannacci, while the opposition remains fragmented. The centre-left is split, particularly over the war in Ukraine, with Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein and Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte at odds.
Meloni quickly framed the vote as a demonstration of unity. "To those who hoped to see the centre-right split, today we answer with facts: we are united, solid and determined to carry forward the commitments made to citizens," she wrote on social media.
During the sitting, opposition MPs protested, brandishing placards reading "Rigged law," "No to the fix," and "With Meloni diesel at 3 euros." Schlein said in her explanation of vote: "Seats first. That is your slogan. We will vote firmly against this electoral law, which has been designed not for voters but to protect those already elected. With our progressive alliance we will be able to win under any electoral law and change Italians' lives."
Conte used unusually harsh language, arguing the law was written to ensure victory for the ruling coalition. He added: "There is only one further detail missing to guarantee your future control of Parliament: specifying that the majority bonus goes to a prime minister with light-coloured eyes."
How the reform was passed
The governing majority held firm in the secret ballot, which was the third parliamentary reading after Senate amendments introduced preference voting with blocked list leaders and raised the signature threshold for parties not represented in Parliament. On Wednesday, the Chamber approved a confidence motion on the first three articles; Thursday's vote was the final, most delicate one. Had it failed, the government would not have been forced to resign, but the text would have been rejected.
The most significant changes are in the first two articles, passed via confidence vote. They introduce preference voting alongside blocked list leaders and set out rules for electing both the Chamber and the Senate. The signature threshold for parties without parliamentary representation has been raised from 1,500 to 6,000, and gender representation rules have been amended. A third article addresses single-member constituencies in the province of Bolzano, while article 8 introduces the right to vote for Italians living away from their registered residence.
The confidence vote mechanism allows governments to fast-track legislation and limit debate. Under this procedure, MPs vote on the government's text as presented, without amendments. The government stakes its survival on the outcome; a defeat would automatically bring down the administration.
Pension threshold and constitutional concerns
Faced with the threat of a government crisis, most MPs were expected to back the reform. Political scientists are watching a specific date: when the legislature reaches 4 years, 6 months and one day of its five-year term. On that date, first-term MPs become entitled to a parliamentary pension (around 1,500 euros, payable from age 65). For the current government, that threshold falls on 14 April 2027, and Italian political history suggests an election before then is very unlikely.
There is nonetheless concern that the Constitutional Court could overturn the reform, which would complicate the government's plans and expose the right to criticism during the campaign. The opposition has identified three potentially unconstitutional elements: the majority bonus in the Senate, the requirement for parties without an established ballot logo to gather 300,000 signatures, and the absence of a requirement that at least 40 percent of lead candidates be women. According to critics, the law could leave Italy in political deadlock.
The reform comes as Italy faces broader challenges, including fuel duty changes and pressure on EU carbon rules. The electoral law will shape how these issues are contested in the run-up to 2027.
