Despite recording one of the largest numbers of infections from the coronavirus, Italy has voted––the first major politically-motivated gathering in months – in seven regional elections, as well as a referendum that seeks to cut down the number of MPs in the country’s upper and lower chamber, reshaping its current political structure.

Over 51.6 million people eligible to participate in elections voted on Sunday, in a referendum on reducing the number of parliament members in the country. The vote, if in favour of the referendum, would result in a drop in both the upper and lower house with the Chamber of Deputies (the lower house) having a cut from 630 MPs to 400 and the Senate dropping from 315 to 200 members. It is also important to note that no minimum turnout is needed for the vote to be valid.

The leading political party in Italy, M5S (which currently has the most members of any party in the lower house after the elections held in 2018), has supported the referendum from its inception. The party noted that a drop in members of parliament could save the country over 500 million euros ($580 million) during the five-year legislative period. This move, the party hopes, would also contribute to ending the perks and privileges for politicians in the country.

So far, most parties also back the constitutional referendum, which has already been passed by the Chamber but without a two-thirds majority that would have helped avoid a referendum in the first place.

The referendum has, however, been met with criticism of its own. While the M5S has thrown its weight behind it, critics have also referred to it as a move that could undermine the democratic system and weaken the authority of parliament through the reduction of Italy’s democratic representation, cutting the current ratio of 1.6 lawmakers per 100,000 people to 1.