Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s ruling coalition has vowed to continue its efforts to overhaul the country’s electoral system, despite suffering a significant parliamentary setback that has fueled opposition demands for snap elections. During a secret ballot in the lower house on Tuesday, an amendment to a critical part of the reform package was rejected by a single vote.
It is estimated that between 20 and 25 members of the governing coalition broke ranks to vote against the measure.
The defeated amendment would have granted voters greater authority to rank their preferred candidates on electoral lists, though it made an exception for lead candidates who would remain at the top of party lists. Following the vote, opposition members in the chamber of deputies celebrated by chanting calls for “elections” and “resign.”
Meloni responded to the defeat on Facebook, describing the result as a “missed opportunity for the Italian people” and lamenting that “the swamp won again.” While she criticized the opposition for insisting on a secret ballot, she acknowledged that the absence of several votes from majority ranks is a matter requiring internal reflection.
Francesco Lollobrigida, a minister and close ally of the Prime Minister, has pledged to identify and “hunt” down the rebellious lawmakers.
Opposition leaders quickly capitalized on the internal division. Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party (PD), urged Meloni to “go home and give the country a government capable of solving Italy’s problems.” Former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte also joined the calls for Meloni to step down and for the country to hold early elections.
Meanwhile, government officials sought to project unity. Luca Ciriani, a minister from the Brothers of Italy party, told SkyTG24 that the administration has no intention of ending its term and remains proud of the stability it has provided.
Forza Italia’s lower house leader, Enrico Costa, emphasized that pushing forward with the law is crucial to ensuring future stability, while Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani dismissed the loss as a mere “blip along the way.”
The government’s proposed reforms aim to introduce a fully proportional model that includes the creation of bonus seats for the coalition securing the most votes. Despite the current legislative hurdle, Ignazio La Russa, president of the upper house, suggested the measure could be revived in the Senate.
Although Brothers of Italy continues to lead in individual party polling, surveys indicate that the broader rightwing bloc currently trails a leftwing alliance led by the PD.
With general elections due before October 2027 and the emergence of far-right challenger Roberto Vannacci, recent polls suggest that a future vote might result in a hung parliament with no clear winner.
In a secret ballot in the lower house on Tuesday, an amendment to a key aspect of the reforms was defeated by a single vote, with an estimated 20-25 members of the coalition breaking ranks.
He said between 20 and 25 “sniper” lawmakers from within the rightwing coalition, which includes Forza Italia and the populist League, had voted against the amendment.
