Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has conceded defeat after voters rejected her proposed judicial reforms in a closely watched constitutional referendum, while affirming she will remain in office.
With nearly all ballots counted from voting held on Sunday and Monday, the “No” camp secured about 53.5 percent of the vote, compared to 46.5 percent for the “Yes” side. Turnout exceeded expectations, surpassing 58 percent, underscoring strong public engagement in the high-stakes decision.
Meloni acknowledged the outcome in a statement, saying Italians had made their choice and it must be respected. However, she described the result as a missed opportunity to modernise the country’s justice system. At the same time, she stressed that the referendum outcome would not affect her government’s commitment to continue governing with determination.
The proposed reforms aimed to restructure the judiciary by separating the roles of judges and prosecutors and overhauling the system that oversees them. According to the government, these changes were necessary to ensure impartiality and improve efficiency in a system often criticised for lengthy trials and administrative delays.
However, opposition figures strongly rejected the plan. Elly Schlein argued that the proposal was flawed and risked undermining judicial independence rather than strengthening it. Critics also said the reforms failed to address deeper structural issues, including prison overcrowding and slow legal proceedings.
Tensions between the government and the judiciary have been rising for months. Notably, more than 80 percent of members of Italy’s National Magistrates Association staged a strike last year in protest. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio had dismissed criticism from judges, further intensifying the dispute.
Despite the setback, Meloni’s government remains in power, and the referendum result is unlikely to trigger immediate political instability.
