Italy's opposition vows to fight 'Melonellum' in court after Meloni wins controversial electoral reform vote

From the Newshound archive · first published 8 October 2026 · last updated 9 October 2026.

Italy's parliament has passed a sweeping overhaul of the electoral system, handing Giorgia Meloni a significant political victory with 227 MPs voting in favour and 164 against in a secret ballot in the lower house. The new law, dubbed 'Stabilicum' by supporters and 'Melonellum' by critics, awards any coalition winning more than 42% of votes with bonus seats in both houses of parliament. Centre-left leader Elly Schlein accused Meloni of 'changing the rules of the game' just months before an election due by the end of next year. The opposition has vowed to challenge the law at Italy's constitutional court, calling it a 'scam' and a 'con'.

Under the new rules, parties must collect up to 450,000 in-person signatures to run nationwide — up from 1,500 to 6,000 per constituency.

Meloni's government is reportedly already preparing tweaks to the law in case the constitutional court strikes down the bonus seat provision.