Italian Coalition Submits "Stabilicum" Bill: Proportional System with Bonus

The Italian governing coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has finalized work on a new electoral law project, known as "Stabilicum". The document has been officially deposited in the Senate, and its key provisions envision a revolution in how a parliamentary majority is formed. The system is to remain proportional, but it provides for a majority bonus to be awarded to the list that obtains at least 40 percent of the votes. This mechanism is limited by a strict cap: the additional pool cannot exceed 15 percent of all seats, and the total number of seats for the winner in the Chamber of Deputies cannot be higher than 230. Furthermore, the new regulation imposes on electoral committees the obligation to indicate the name of the candidate for prime minister and the electoral program already at the stage of list registration. The reaction of opposition parties to the submitted bill is exceptionally sharp. Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party, called the proposal "unacceptable" and criticized the legislative process, describing it as a "nighttime blitz". The opposition argues that the changes serve only the interests of the current majority, and the lack of possibility for preferential voting limits voters' agency. Coalition representatives, including Giovanni Donzelli from the Brothers of Italy party, rebut these accusations, declaring readiness for dialogue, while simultaneously accusing their adversaries of prejudice. The reform is presented by the government as a necessary tool to ensure cabinet stability, which is crucial for Italy's long-term economic and political planning. The Italian political system has been grappling with chronic instability since the end of World War II, resulting in the formation of over 60 governments in eight decades. Successive reformers have tried to address this phenomenon through various electoral models, such as "Porcellum" or the current "Rosatellum", but none have so far managed to create a lasting and coherent parliamentary majority capable of surviving a full term.Controversies surrounding "Stabilicum" also concern the lack of introduction of preferential votes, meaning voters will vote for party lists rather than specific individuals. Critics note that the ruling coalition is accelerating work on the electoral law at a time when Italians are struggling with inflation and low wages, which fuels social polarization. The project is attracting interest from international markets and financial institutions, which see in it a chance for macroeconomic stabilization, although political scientists warn of the risk of excessive concentration of power with the winner. „È inaccettabile che mentre non si parla di salari, la maggioranza si ritrovi di notte per parlare di una legge elettorale che serve solo a garantire i loro seggi.” (It is unacceptable that while there is no talk of wages, the majority meets at night to discuss an electoral law that serves only to guarantee their seats.) — Elly Schlein