Opposition parties immediately attacked the prime minister, portraying the proposal as a power grab. “Meloni has betrayed Italians,” said Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein, telling parliament that “we will send you home with any electoral law.”
Meloni’s term is due to end in September 2027, and the Italian leader wants to pass the reform ahead of the next general election. Many political observers believe she could send the country to the polls as early as next April, with pressure mounting from both the opposition, which appears to be coalescing around a united front, and within her own coalition. Roberto Vannacci’s hard-right breakaway party National Future, which he formed in February after splitting from the League, is competing for some of the same voters as Meloni.
The parliamentary vote came just two days after the prime minister lost a key amendment on the electoral reform by a single vote in a secret ballot, which suggested lawmakers from her coalition had voted against their own government.