Italian parliament approves contested electoral changes

Italian parliament on Thursday approved contested changes to the country's electoral system championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ahead of elections due next year. Lawmakers voted 227 to 164 in favor of moving to a fully proportional system, which Meloni has argued will boost the chance of clear winners and more stable government.

The changes will introduce a fully proportional system that guarantees a parliamentary majority to any alliance winning more than 42 percent of the vote.