The Italian parliament on Tuesday rejected a key aspect of voting rule changes proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's party, delivering a heavy blow ahead of the general election scheduled for next year, according to Reuters.

The Italian Chamber of Deputies debated an electoral amendment that would introduce a fully proportional voting system with additional seats for the winning coalition.

In a secret ballot, deputies rejected a motion by Meloni's Brothers of Italy party to reinstate a preferential voting system for candidates on party lists.

Meloni's two main coalition partners, the League and Forza Italia, had announced they would support the measure, but it was rejected by 188 votes to 187, indicating a split within the ruling majority.

The center-left opposition accused Meloni of rewriting electoral rules ahead of next year's election in an attempt to hold onto power.

Opposition groups hailed the result and said it showed that Meloni no longer had full control of her parliamentary majority, with some calling for her resignation.