Italian premier Matteo Renzi on Monday called on rebels within his ruling centre-left Democratic Party to back his electoral reform bill claiming the party's credibility as force for change was at stake.
"If this electoral law doesn't pass then the idea of the Democratic party as a motor of change for Italy will disappear," Renzi said in an open letter to the party, posted on its website.
The proposed electoral reforms aim to produce more stable governments by introducing a two-round voting system and a large winner's bonus of seats to the party that takes the most votes.
Critics of the reforms say the winner's bonus is undemocratic and they also oppose measures allowing party bosses to choose candidates, claiming this would give them too much power.
The bill began a second reading in the lower house Chamber of Deputies on Monday, where up to 100 rebel Democratic Party lawmakers have continued to oppose its measures.
The bill has been under discussion in the Italian parliament for a year.
If Democratic Party rebels vote against the bill, this would jeopardise Renzi's majority of around 70 seats in the lower house of parliament.
Renzi said he would decide on Tuesday whether to put the bill to a vote of confidence.
