Italy’s Giorgia Meloni coalition government has lost a crucial vote on an amendment to electoral reform on a close 188‑187 basis, marking a significant setback ahead of the 2027 general election.
The secret ballot in the Chamber of Deputies saw several MPs from Meloni’s own party, Brothers of Italy, turn against the proposal, exposing cracks in the ruling coalition.
Meloni posted angrily on social media after the vote, calling the result “a missed opportunity for Italians” and accusing opposition parties of celebrating like a team that ‘won the World Cup’ for inhibiting voters’ choice.
The amendment would have shifted Italy to a fully proportional system, awarding a bonus to the party with the largest share of the vote and forcing coalitions to agree on a shared platform and single prime ministerial candidate – a move many parties found uncomfortable.
Although the preference‑voting component failed, the government may press on with the rest of the reform, which its supporters argue would reduce coalition instability. Opposition parties have branded the plan as “authoritarian” and a manoeuvre to secure a majority for next year’s election.
Since 2022, Meloni has led a coalition of centre‑right, right‑wing parties and her hard‑right FdI. Declining individual popularity and internal disagreements have worsened ahead of the vote, culminating in the defeat.
Centre‑left and left‑wing opposition are already uniting, having successfully opposed a government‑backed constitutional referendum. If early elections are held in September 2027, Meloni could become Italy’s first prime minister to govern a full term with only one government since 1946.
The political landscape now faces a critical juncture: Meloni’s coalition must decide whether to broaden its appeal toward the centre or pull harder to the right, possibly aligning with parties like the National Future, which has been polling around 6%.
