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Electoral reform runoff plan runs into trouble as Forza Italia questions its strategy after League opposition
🇮🇹 Italy /Elections & Politics

Electoral reform runoff plan runs into trouble as Forza Italia questions its strategy after League opposition

From Corriere della Sera · () Italian

Translated from Italian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • Italy’s parliamentary debate on electoral reform is scheduled to begin on Sept. 9 after the opposition filed 697 amendments, with the runoff mechanism still unresolved.
  • Marcello Pera’s proposal would create a second round if no coalition reaches 48% in both chambers, provided the top two coalitions each exceed 38%.
  • Forza Italia has dropped its own amendment, while the League opposes the runoff plan and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni insists she will not govern through a coalition or broad agreement with the center-left.

Italy’s proposed electoral runoff is in difficulty, with the governing coalition still searching for an agreement before lawmakers begin debating the reform on Sept. 9.

The opposition has filed 697 amendments, shifting the focus of the dispute to the parliamentary chamber. The center-left has united behind eight amendments, including one aimed at moving away from primary elections, an issue that has divided progressives. Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein accused Giorgia Meloni of trying to design an electoral law around current opinion polls, calling the effort “shameful.”

Meloni reads the polls of the day and is trying to build an electoral law tailored to herself. Shameful.

— Elly SchleinThe center-left leader criticized the government’s approach to electoral reform.

The governing majority has six days to settle the remaining disputes over the so-called Stabilicum. It has already reached agreement on preference voting, including a partial safeguard for gender representation. The main unresolved issue is the runoff.

The only remaining amendment on the second round is Marcello Pera’s proposal, which he plans to file personally in the chamber. That approach would spare the government from having to issue an opinion while it remains divided. Pera, a senator with Brothers of Italy, proposes a runoff between the two leading coalitions if neither reaches 48% in both chambers, provided both coalitions exceed 38%.

Why should we take ownership of a losing battle?

— Forza Italia membersThe remark reflected the party’s decision not to file its own runoff amendment.

Forza Italia had supported a second round alongside Brothers of Italy but decided not to file its own amendment. The move reflects a partial change of position, with party members asking why they should lead a losing battle. It also sends a conciliatory signal to the League, which opposes the change because it could weaken its appeal for strategic voting and strengthen Roberto Vannacci’s movement. Matteo Salvini reportedly discussed the issue at the latest leaders’ summit.

Do not make me tie, because I will never govern with the Democratic Party or in other broad-coalition formulas.

— Giorgia MeloniThe prime minister told allies she opposed an electoral outcome that could force her into a broad coalition.

The matter is not settled. Lawmakers may still revise Pera’s amendment and seek a political compromise, but party officials say the room for maneuver is narrow for both political and technical reasons. Lowering the threshold for the runoff could fail to guarantee any coalition a parliamentary majority, undermining the reform’s stated goal of governability.

Meloni is following the process personally and has warned her allies that she will never govern with the Democratic Party or through another broad coalition arrangement. Stefania Craxi, Forza Italia’s Senate leader, said her party was open to useful proposals during the parliamentary process but preferred dialogue. Party technicians urged the majority to avoid forcing the issue or exposing itself to sustained opposition attacks in the chamber.

We are ready to assess every useful proposal during the parliamentary process, but we favor dialogue.

— Stefania CraxiForza Italia’s Senate leader described the party’s position during negotiations.
About this summary

Originally published by Corriere della Sera in Italian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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