Electoral reform, the Senate gives definitive green light: now it's the Chamber's turn

On September 14 we had reported on the approval of Articles 1 and 5 of the electoral reform, with the final vote scheduled for the following day (this was written on September 14, 2026, the piece is here). That deadline has arrived: on September 15 the Senate Chamber gave its definitive green light, as far as Palazzo Madama is concerned, to the electoral law reform with 113 votes in favour, 71 against and 2 abstentions.

The text, which came from the Chamber of Deputies and was amended at Palazzo Madama in the preceding weeks, now returns to Montecitorio for the third reading. The debate in the Chamber is scheduled to begin on September 28.

The system approved by the Senate introduces a proportional framework with a majority bonus set at 42% of votes in both Chambers. The preference mechanism returns, with blocked list leaders, and voters retain the ability to indicate their preferred candidate for prime minister.

Before the final vote, the opposition protested in the Chamber, displaying signs reading “no to the fake law”, a sign of the confrontation that has accompanied the entire course of the measure at Palazzo Madama, from the rejected constitutionality objections to the discussions on amendments in the preceding weeks.

Among the remarks made during the explanation of vote, Senate President Ignazio La Russa described the passage as “a great step forward…”.

The parliamentary process is therefore not concluded: the third reading in the Chamber will have to determine whether the text that emerged from Palazzo Madama becomes law as it stands or whether it will undergo further changes, which would require a new passage through the Senate. The date of September 28 marks the beginning of the final phase of the process, with the majority aiming to close the debate before the parliamentary calendar becomes crowded with other measures.