ROME — Italy’s government has dismissed calls for snap elections after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s ruling coalition suffered a narrow parliamentary defeat on proposed electoral reform legislation.
Government Minister for Parliamentary Relations Luca Ciriani said on Wednesday that the coalition remains committed to completing its term in office, despite opposition demands for an early election following the setback.
“We have no intention of ending our time in government and remain proud of the stability we have provided to the country,” Ciriani said.
The government’s proposed amendment, which sought to allow voters to express preferences for individual candidates on electoral lists, was narrowly rejected in a 188-187 secret ballot in parliament on Tuesday.
Ciriani attributed the defeat to between 20 and 25 lawmakers from the governing coalition who allegedly voted against the proposal during the confidential vote, making it impossible to identify those responsible.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the outcome as a lost opportunity for Italian voters, arguing that the reform would have strengthened democratic participation. She also criticized what she called the persistence of political deadlock that prevented the proposal from passing.
The broader electoral reform package aims to replace Italy’s current mixed voting system—combining first-past-the-post and proportional representation—with a proportional representation model. Under the proposal, any coalition securing at least 42% of the national vote would receive additional parliamentary seats to ensure a governing majority.
Despite the legislative defeat, government officials insist the coalition remains united and that there are no plans to dissolve parliament or seek an early general election.
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