Pier Luigi Bersani, Premier Matteo Renzi's predecessor as the head of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), called on Renzi to "reflect" on rewriting the Italicum election law. The Italicum, which was approved last year, gives a package of bonus seats to the party that wins more than 40% of the vote to ensure they have a working majority in parliament.
A run-off takes places between the two top parties for the bonus seats if none reaches the 40% threshold.
Renzi has said it will stop the fast 'revolving-door' governments, which Italy had for much of the post-war period, and give it political stability.
But the Italicum is one of a series of issues that have caused tension between Renzi and a minority within the PD opposed to many of his policies and his assertive leadership of the party.
On Wednesday Bersani said Renzi should make concessions over the Italicum to ensure the party is united in supporting a yes vote in the October referendum on the government's Constitutional reform to overhaul Italy's political machinery and prevent the PD turning into "wreckage".
He called for the Italicum's run-off to be replaced by a automatic second round of voting in every constituency in which no single candidate wins more than 50% in the first round. "Renzi should say vote yes and I'll respond to some objections, I'm ready to reflect on the Italicum," Bersani said.
"A second round in the constituency is needed. You cannot swap the second round with a run-off".
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