Italian Coalition Announces Agreement on New Electoral Law 'Stabilicum'

Italy's political scene has been dominated by news of a breakthrough in negotiations within the ruling camp concerning new electoral law. After intense talks lasting late into the night, representatives from the Brothers of Italy, the League, and Forza Italia have developed a joint reform proposal. The central point of the proposal is the introduction of a mechanism to guarantee the winning coalition a stable majority in parliament, a direct response to Italy's historical problems with the durability of governing coalitions. The project envisions basing elections on a proportional principle, but reinforced with a high majority bonus. Although technical details, such as precise electoral thresholds, still require final approval from party leaders, the document has already gained the nickname 'Stabilicum'. The opposition's reaction was immediate and decidedly negative. Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party, described the changes as 'unacceptable' and accused the right-wing of caring only about its own political survival. The opposition argues that such fundamental changes to the democratic system should not be introduced unilaterally, without broad social and parliamentary consensus. In turn, representatives of the Brothers of Italy (FdI) counter these attacks, claiming that criticism from the left is purely ritualistic and lacks substantive merit. Majority politicians officially declare openness to dialogue, although the pace of work on the bill suggests a desire to quickly close the legislative process this very week. Since 1945, Italy has had over 60 cabinets, making its parliamentary system one of the most unstable in Western Europe. The previous 2017 reform, known as 'Rosatellum', also sparked numerous controversies. In the shadow of the dispute over the electoral law, Italian media also note significant changes in international legislation. The Mexican parliament has approved a historic reform shortening the work week from 48 to 40 hours, sparking discussions about employment standards in Europe as well. Simultaneously, in Italy, debates continue over the future of so-called preferences, the retention of which in the new law remains uncertain. The dispute over whether voters should have the right to indicate specific names or whether lists should be 'blocked' by party leaderships remains one of the most contentious points of the Stabilicum reform.