Onorato, Futuro Nazionale, Più Europa and the ‘red thing’. Asymmetric effects of the anti-splinter group amendment

Amidst the general chaos sparked by the debate over the new electoral law, a further point of contention has emerged. An amendment tabled by Antonella Zedda (Fratelli d’Italia) has scrapped the so-called ‘anti-splinter’ rule, introduced by Forza Italia in June, which excluded from the overall vote tally those lists that fell below the 3 per cent threshold, with the exception of the ‘best runner-up’.

However, a new rule has now come into force. It provides for a significant increase in the number of signatures required for those entering Parliament for the first time. Whereas previously 1,500 signatures were required for each multi-member constituency (around 120,000 in total), the number has now risen to 9,000, amounting to over 700,000 across Italy. The opposition has protested, led by M5S leader Giuseppe Conte, who described it as a ‘scam rule by the political elite’.

Political parties represented in at least one of the two houses of parliament as at 31 December 2025 are exempt from collecting signatures. For those with a contingent in the Mixed Group at the time the elections are called, the number of signatures to be collected will be between 1,500 and 2,000 in each constituency. This number could be reduced further in the event of a snap election: if the parliamentary term were to end at least four months before its natural expiry date – i.e. by next June – the number of signatures required would be halved.

The amendment particularly affects certain political parties – some of which have been formed recently, but not exclusively:

Più Europa secured 2.9 per cent of the vote in the 2022 elections, winning two seats in the Chamber of Deputies and none in the Senate. In the Chamber of Deputies, it is part of the mixed group and would therefore need to secure 1,500 signatures in each multi-member constituency to regain its parliamentary seats. A high figure, certainly, but not impossible.

The party founded by Roberto Vannacci in February currently holds eight seats in the Chamber of Deputies and is part of the mixed group. Here too, the target is to secure 1,500 signatures in each multi-member constituency. This will be the general’s party’s first real organisational challenge, as Fn does not yet have representatives in every Italian province.

The ‘mayors’ party’, founded in June by Rome’s councillor for major events, Alessandro Onorato, will instead be required to collect 9,000 signatures for each constituency. It is hardly surprising that Onorato himself was among the first to announce his opposition to the amendment. In theory, Progetto Civico could form an alliance with Più Europa to present a joint list. This alliance would reduce the number of signatures required to 1,500 per constituency; moreover, these would be collected jointly by the two parties. However, it is precisely over this alliance that Più Europa has split, and a new party conference is due to be held in December: President Matteo Hallissey and former Secretary Della Vedova are aiming for an alliance with Renzi, which would leave the Rome councillor without this opportunity. This is another reason why alternative strategies are being considered in Parliament. One such strategy is said to have been proposed by M5S leader Giuseppe Conte to the PD: to ‘lend’ a number of MPs from both parties to the Mixed Group in order to create a ‘Progetto Civico’ contingent in Parliament.

Ultimately, the effects of the legislation also extend to parties that are already established but lack parliamentary representation, such as Potere al Popolo and Rifondazione Comunista. Once allies, now divided, if either were to stand for Parliament now, they would have to collect over 700,000 signatures across Italy, making the presence of a ‘red bloc’ to the left of the broad coalition almost impossible. “It is absurd that a higher number of signatures is required than is needed to call for a referendum. The amendment seems designed to prevent Rifondazione Comunista or other groups from standing in the next elections,” denounces Rifondazione’s secretary, Maurizio Acerbo.