Italy’s lower house of parliament on ​Thursday approved a highly contested government plan to overhaul the electoral law, a move ‌opponents denounced as an attempt to help Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni retain power in the next election due in 2027. Under the current system, most lawmakers are elected through proportional ​representation, while roughly a third are chosen in first-past-the-post constituencies that analysts say tend to favor the opposition. The proposal by the ruling right-wing coalition would abolish the constituencies and make representation entirely proportional. It would also grant a seat bonus in each house of the legislature to to any bloc winning more than 42% of ​the vote, guaranteeing a ruling majority while also capping potential seats to avoid overly large majorities.

The move comes as Futuro Nazionale, a new and rising far-right movement, has siphoned support from the ruling coalition and raised concerns over its impact on the next election. The Chamber of Deputies, the lower legislative house, approved the measure 217-152, with protest in the chamber. The new procedures still require the approval of the Italian Senate.

Full report: Italy’s parliament backs Meloni’s contested electoral reform.