The House session was suspended as the outcome meant that it was not possible to vote on the government's DEF economic blueprint.
The motion failed to get the backing of an absolute majority of the members of chamber, winning 195 votes in favour, with 19 against and 105 abstentions.
That means the coalition was six short of the 201 votes it needed.
“The ruling majority has failed,” said Chiara Braga, the House whip for the opposition, centre-left Democratic Party (PD).
“The Italian people do not deserve this indecorous show of a ruling majority.”
Francesco Silvestri, an MP for the opposition 5-Star Movement (M5S), told the chamber that Meloni should report to President Sergio Mattarella after the defeat.
“You are incompetents,” Silvestri said.
“You tell the people who receive the citizenship wage (minimum-income benefit) to go out to work.
“But you are the ones who should come into work.
“Premier Meloni should immediately go to the presidential palace to get guidance.
“You are creating financial instability that we cannot afford.”
Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said that the ruling majority's defeat did not stem from a “political problem”, stressing that the some of the coalition's lawmakers “do not know or do not realise” the importance of the vote.
A count showed that 25 MPs from the parties of the ruling coalition failed to take part in the vote, five from the League, nine from Forza Italia (FI) and five from Premier Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FDI) party.
ANSA
