Italian Parliament Rejects Key Meloni Election Reform

Italy's lower house of parliament on Tuesday rejected a key element of the electoral reform proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's party, dealing her a political setback ahead of next year's parliamentary elections.

Lawmakers are debating changes to the electoral system that would introduce full proportional representation while granting a seat bonus to the winning coalition. In a secret ballot, however, they narrowly rejected a proposal by the Brothers of Italy party to reintroduce preferential voting for candidates on party lists. The measure was defeated by 188 votes to 187.

Meloni's coalition partners, the League and Forza Italia, had both indicated they would support the measure. The result therefore suggests that some members of the ruling majority voted against it.

The center-left opposition accuses Meloni of trying to rewrite the electoral rules to benefit her coalition ahead of next year's elections. Following the vote, opposition parties said the prime minister no longer has full control of her parliamentary majority, with some lawmakers calling on her to resign.

(Reuters, Lud)