The Chamber starts the final step of the electoral reform

Starting today, Monday, September 21, 2026, the Chamber of Deputies has begun the final step in the approval process for the electoral law reform. The text, described as "armor-plated," returns to Montecitorio for the final passage before the expected finish line in early October. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced, for reasons of "clarity," that she will call for a confidence vote on the measure.

The day began with hearings from experts, which had already been conducted previously in both the Chamber and the Senate. Among the speakers heard starting at 11 a.m. are Professor Michele Ainis, Professor Gaetano Azzariti, and Mario Staderini, coordinator of the appeal to the European Court of Human Rights on electoral matters. However, the final vote is not considered immune to surprises, as demonstrated by the first passage of the "Stabilicum" at Montecitorio, which was shot down by snipers.

The electoral reform under discussion, nicknamed "Stabilicum," arises from the need to modify the voting system after years of laws deemed unstable. The process began with the "Italicum," a 2015 law approved during the Renzi government and enacted in July 2016, designed only for the Chamber of Deputies. In January 2017, the Constitutional Court struck down some key aspects, such as the runoff and blocked party lists, but preserved the majority bonus tied to surpassing 40% of the votes, declaring the law "already applicable."

The new text maintains a proportional system corrected by a fixed majority bonus, awarded to the list or coalition that exceeds 42% of the votes. It mirrors some thresholds from the previous "Rosatellum" (10% for coalitions, 3% for lists) and introduces new elements, such as an increase in the signatures required to run for office and the possibility of voting for non-resident students and caregivers. The stated goal is to ensure greater government stability, but debate is heated over potential effects on pluralism and representation.