Reform process on in Italy

On 4 May, a majority in the Chamber of Deputies approved a government bill to implement a new electoral system in Italy.

The important point is that, with the introduction of a new majority premium, any party winning more than 40% of the vote will secure more than the majority of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies, thus enabling the government to always operate with a clear majority. At the time, this seems as very good news for the nation's political stability, says Societe Generale.

This electoral reform did not solve instantly the institutional shortcomings of Italy. In fact, if elections were to be held today, the Senate would most likely end up very fragmented, just like the Chamber of Deputies under the old configuration. That is why parliament, for quite some time now, has been discussing a constitutional reform designed to reduce the Senate's powers, adds SocGen.