Italy: A new electoral system challenged in 25 courts; on October 26, the public initiative "Network for a Free and Equal Vote" announced it had filed lawsuits against the new electoral system simultaneously in 25 courts in Italy. According to the organizers, more than 300 people signed the declarations, including former Prime Minister Romano Prodi, Pier Luigi Bersani, Fausto Bertinotti, and other representatives of politics and public organizations. Law No. 180 of October 9, 2026, known as Italicum, is in dispute. Among the applicants' arguments: the parliamentary majority bonus mechanism, the seat allocation procedure, the early designation of the prime ministerial candidate, the closed top positions on party lists, rules on female representation, and increased signature collection requirements for some parties. The date of the first trial is set for December 16 in Trento. The initiators hope to achieve the referral of questions on the law's constitutionality to the Constitutional Court. As of now, referring to the filed lawsuits, the Constitutional Court has not examined the law on its merits, and its effect has not been suspended. Law No. 180 entered into force on October 24.