Italian Political Ambitions: Meloni Plans Electoral Law Reforms to Secure Re-election
In Italy, there is currently active discussion about implementing radical reforms to the electoral law aimed at boosting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s chances of being re-elected.
According to news agencies, Meloni’s team is considering proposals that would help her maintain control over the parliamentary majority, as internal polls suggest that in the near future, voters might strip her of the advantage in the upper house — the Senate.
These changes are seen as a logical step in response to growing uncertainty regarding her re-election prospects, with key opponents and allies debating new mechanisms for redistributing seats to strengthen her position.Experts indicate that the proposed initiatives could involve shifting entirely to a proportional representation system, incorporating a ‘majority bonus’ for the leading coalition, which would guarantee it up to 55% of seats with only 40% of votes.
This move would significantly weaken opponents who currently gain their parliamentary seats mainly through majoritarian districts, enhancing Meloni’s chances of retaining power.
Such revolutionary reforms are likely to trigger intense political debates, given the risk of perceptions that they are manipulative attempts to shore up power while maintaining the status quo.Polls show that with a single candidate per district, opposition forces could significantly challenge or even outflank the government coalition — especially in the south, a historically volatile region.
However, the reform faces resistance both inside Parliament and from opposition groups, which have sometimes acted discordantly, complicating its adoption.Nevertheless, these reforms could help stabilize the political landscape by establishing clearer rules of engagement, as has been seen in Italy’s history of frequent electoral law changes over recent decades without reducing chronic instability.
The Meloni government has not yet made a final decision on these modifications, and representatives of her party, Brothers of Italy, have not publicly commented.
The mere discussion of such reforms indicates an intent by those in power to preserve their grip on authority by any means, signaling potential future political struggles.Overall, the recent efforts to change electoral laws reflect ongoing attempts to address Italy’s persistent political instability, with the new reforms possibly serving as a step towards greater stability, boosting investor confidence and international perceptions of Italy’s political resilience.