Italians reject Meloni’s judicial reform and defeat ultra-right

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, suffered this Monday (23) the first major political defeat of her government, with the rejection of the Judiciary reform defended by her ultra-right coalition in a national referendum.

With 53.7% of votes for “no” and participation of 58.9%, the result transformed a proposal presented by the Executive as “institutional modernization” into a direct setback for the Prime Minister, who was personally involved in the campaign.

The consultation confirmed the defeat of one of Meloni’s main political bets since his arrival at Palazzo Chigi, in 2022.

The reform changed seven articles of the Italian Constitution and provided for the definitive separation of the careers of judges and prosecutors, the division of the Superior Council of the Judiciary into two distinct bodies and the creation of a disciplinary High Court.

The opposition, sectors of the judiciary, unions and civil society committees treated the proposal as an attempt to weaken the autonomy of the Judiciary and alter the balance between the State’s powers.

The “no” vote grew stronger in large cities, in the south of the country and among young people, exposing Meloni’s political vulnerability at a time when the electoral climate in Italy was anticipated.

The result consolidated a significant advantage for the “no”, which totaled 53.7% of the votes (14.4 million), against 46.3% for the “yes” (12.4 million), opening a difference of around 2 million votes. Turnout reached 58.9%, one of the highest in confirmatory referendums since 1946.

The “no” vote won in most of the national territory, including regions governed by the right, and prevailed with a wide margin in the main urban centers, such as Naples (75%), Rome (more than 60%), Milan (around 58%) and Florence (approximately 67%).

The “yes” performance was concentrated in areas of the North, such as Lombardy, Veneto and Friuli, without being able to advance in large cities or in the most populous regions.

The age group also scared Meloni’s far-right government: more than 60% of voters under 35 voted “no”, while support for the reform was relatively stronger among older voters, indicating a generational misalignment with the proposal defended by the government.

In a video published on social media, Meloni did not hide his disappointment with the result and stated that “the Italians decided and we respect that decision”.

The general secretary of the Italian General Confederation of Labor (CGIL), Maurizio Landini, assessed that there was “a very large participation” and stated that the result reinforces the role of voting as a central instrument of democracy. According to him, the referendum indicates that the country does not accept changes to the Constitution and demands its full application.

Landini also highlighted that defending the autonomy and independence of the judiciary is a condition for democratic functioning, stating that “the law is the same for everyone”