One vote sinks Meloni's election reform amendment as coalition snipers strike in Rome
A single vote in a secret ballot derailed an amendment on preference votes, exposing a rift inside Giorgia Meloni's three-party coalition that opposition leaders immediately seized on to demand her resignation.
A one-vote defeat
On Tuesday evening, 14 July 2026, the Italian Chamber of Deputies voted on an amendment to the government's electoral reform bill that would have let voters assign preference votes to individual candidates on party lists. The result was 188 against and 187 in favour, rejecting the proposal by a single vote. Because Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's three-party right-wing coalition controls a clear majority, the loss could only be explained by defections from her own side. The broader reform, dubbed "Stabilicum", aims to introduce a purely proportional system with a majority bonus for the winning coalition and the direct election of the prime minister.
- Judicial reform rejected in referendum by a 6-point margin.
- Preference-vote amendment falls 188-187 in secret ballot, about 30 coalition snipers strike.
- If she survives the summer, Meloni becomes Italy's longest continuously serving prime minister.
The swamp strikes back
Meloni vented her frustration on Facebook. She wrote that "the swamp has won again," and added that missing votes from her own ranks gave "cause for reflection." The defeat is her second major setback in four months: in late March, voters rejected a judicial reform known as the "Premierato" by a margin of six percentage points in a referendum. Despite the blow, the government announced it will press ahead with the electoral overhaul.
We tried to push through a reform, but the swamp has won again.
Coalition cracks
Estimates put the number of "franchi tiratori" (snipers) who broke ranks at around 30 deputies, possibly as many as 40. The finger points mainly at the Lega, led by Transport Minister Matteo Salvini. Tensions have been simmering over a "differentiated autonomy" bill that would hand more powers and money to the regions. While Lega wants swift implementation, Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia is stalling with strict, costly minimum standards, a tactic that shields its southern voter base. Forza Italia, the third partner under Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, is also unsettled: it has been stuck at 8 percent in polls since the 2022 election, and the children of late founder Silvio Berlusconi are pressing for a generational change at the top. Salvini's Lega has lost three points over the same period, sliding to 6 percent.
- Fratelli d'Italia
- 28 %
- Forza Italia
- 8 %
- Lega
- 6 %
Opposition demands resignation
Centre-left leaders seized the moment. Giuseppe Conte of the Five Star Movement and Elly Schlein of the Democratic Party called on Meloni to step down and trigger a government crisis. Still, Fratelli d'Italia remains dominant, polling at 28 percent and far ahead of all rivals. If Meloni survives until after the summer recess, she will become Italy's longest-serving prime minister in a continuous term in early September.
What's next?
The cabinet has confirmed it will keep pushing the election reform through parliament, even without the preference-vote clause. The secret ballot, however, means further defections cannot be ruled out as the bill clears the remaining hurdles in both chambers. For now, Meloni's grip on the coalition is dented but not broken.
