Politico: Italy's Meloni faces accusations of election rigging

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been accused by opposition parties of attempting to tilt the electoral system in favour of her ruling coalition, after the government struck a late-night agreement on a new electoral law.

The proposed legislation, negotiated on February 25 by Meloni’s right-wing Brothers of Italy alongside coalition partners Forza Italia and the far-right League, would overhaul how parliamentary seats are allocated following general elections. The deal was reached without prior consultation with opposition forces, Politico writes.

Coalition leaders argue that the reform would strengthen political stability by granting the winning bloc a clearer governing majority and reducing the likelihood of technocratic administrations. Critics, however, contend that the changes are designed to entrench Meloni’s hold on power and sideline the left.

“Their priority, their only preoccupation is to guarantee their own positions, changing the law in an unacceptable way,” the opposition centre-left Democratic Party said in a statement.

The proposal would eliminate first-past-the-post constituencies — which currently account for roughly one-third of parliamentary seats — and introduce a fully proportional representation system. In the 2022 general election, the right secured more than 80 per cent of the first-past-the-post seats by uniting behind single candidates, while the left-wing vote was divided.

Under the new bill, any coalition or party list that wins more than 40 per cent of the vote would receive a bonus of 70 seats in the lower house and 35 seats in the Senate, effectively guaranteeing a stable parliamentary majority.

The move comes amid a volatile period in Italy’s political landscape. The centre-left is attempting to consolidate its forces, while the right faces pressure from a new hard-right breakaway group, Futuro Nazionale, formed after a split within the League.

Polling agency YouTrend said in analysis released on February 27 that the right-wing coalition would secure 46 per cent of the vote under the current system — enough to translate into 57 per cent of parliamentary seats if the new law is approved.

Opposition lawmakers have sharply criticised the reform.

Riccardo Magi of the centrist +Europa called the bill manipulative and “incoherent” and said on Facebook that the coalition is treating the law “like a suit they want to tailor to their own measurements in order to stay in power.”

Angelo Bonelli of the Green and Left Alliance said in a statement that it was a “clear attempt to manipulate the forthcoming elections” and showed the government was afraid of losing authority if it loses the referendum next month.

Speculation has grown about the possibility of early elections following a constitutional referendum scheduled for March. Analysts warn that Italy’s economic outlook may deteriorate in 2026 as the stimulus effect of the European Union’s post-pandemic Recovery Fund diminishes.

Responding to criticism, Giovanni Donzelli, a lawmaker from Brothers of Italy and Meloni’s representative in the negotiations, defended the process. The government is “ready to engage with everyone to improve the text,” he told reporters outside parliament on February 26.

By Sabina Mammadli