Italy moves closer to elections as contested electoral law gets approved

Background
There have been a series of attempts over many years to reform Italy's electoral system which has lead to an unstable political landscape of short-lived governments.

Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (Democratic Party (PD)) had resigned in December 2016 following a heavy defeat in a referendum held on the 4 December 2016 to support constitutional reforms he had proposed and forced through the Italian parliament in 2015.

In the latest initiative Italy's four major parties represented within the Constitutional Affairs Committee agreed on the 5 June 2017 on a new electoral law for the country, which would introduce a rule meaning that only parties receiving more than 5% of the vote would be represented in parliament. The new system would combine a first post the post system with a party list system. The new system would also favour parties which grouped together before an election.
Italy’s Chamber of Deputies (lower house of parliament) approved a new electoral law reform on the 12 October 2017, following the Italian government calling a confidence vote on the proposal earlier in the week. The proposal then moved to the upper house for further debate.

It was used in the 4 March 2018 General Election in Italy.

• Primary Source

Politico, 15.01.18: ‘Hand-to-hand’ combat in Italy’s election https://www.politico.eu/article/italian-electoral-law-turns-campaign-into-hand-to-hand-battle/

EurActiv, 13.10.17: Italy lower house passes new electoral law penalising 5-Star Movement https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/italy-lower-house-passes-new-electoral-law-penalising-5-star-movement/

Politico, 13-16.10.17: Antonio Tajani said to eye return to Italian politics http://www.politico.eu/article/antonio-tajani-eyes-return-italian-politics-european-parliament/

Politico, 10-12.10.17: Italy’s electoral law puts government at risk — this one and the next http://www.politico.eu/article/paolo-gentiloni-italy-electoral-law-puts-government-at-risk-this-one-and-the-next/

ESO: Background information: Early Italian elections looming after parties strike deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/early-italian-elections-looming-after-parties-strike-deal/

The Local.it, 10.10.17: Italy's controversial electoral law to be put to confidence vote https://www.thelocal.it/20171010/italys-controversial-electoral-law-to-be-put-to-confidence-vote

UCL: The Constitution Unit: Blog, 08.05.18: How Italy experienced (yet another) electoral system and why it may soon change it again https://constitution-unit.com/2018/05/08/how-italy-experienced-yet-another-electoral-system-and-why-it-may-soon-change-it-again/

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