Italian Prime Minister Concedes Defeat in Judicial Reform Referendum
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has acknowledged her defeat in a significant referendum that aimed to reform the country’s judiciary, a situation that some analysts suggest diminishes her prior image of political invincibility ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Meloni has led what is considered one of the most stable governments in Italy in the past twenty years, with her conservative-populist coalition alongside Lega leader Matteo Salvini being more consistent than the previous technocratic-globalist administration. However, she faced a considerable setback following the results of a two-day referendum.
The quest to reform Italy’s left-leaning and often chaotic judicial system has been a long-standing objective for right-wing leaders, dating back to figures like former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who often encountered legal troubles during his time in office. Recently, Meloni herself has faced legal challenges, including a case in which prosecutors sought her imprisonment for previously preventing an NGO’s migrant boat from disembarking on Italian shores.
The Prime Minister is also at odds with the judiciary, especially as left-wing judges have obstructed her critical strategy to combat illegal immigration by sending boat migrants directly to processing centers across the Mediterranean instead of letting them remain in Italy while their asylum applications are considered. Notably, a ruling by an Italian judge stated that immigration policy does not fall solely under the government’s authority but is guided by EU regulations.
Despite her attempts, Meloni’s effort for judicial reform failed, and she admitted to the loss on Monday, stating, “The Italian people have decided. We respect this decision. We will move forward, as always, with responsibility, determination, and respect for the Italian people and Italy.”
According to exit polls by RAI, the opposition to the referendum was notably strong among young voters, with 61 percent of those aged 18 to 34 voting against Meloni’s proposed changes. Overall, the “no” campaign secured 53.6% of the votes, with most counted.
The referendum proposed significant reforms to the judicial system, including separating career paths for judges and prosecutors, a practice already common in many European and American legal frameworks.
Meloni has argued that the current system, which allows judges and prosecutors to transition between roles, creates personal connections that can bias the supposed impartiality of the judicial process. She also contended that the existing system often places more emphasis on political beliefs rather than merit.
In contrast to the opposition’s claims that the government aimed to politicize the judiciary, one of the proposed reforms was to remove political appointments from the High Council of the Judiciary (CSM), which oversees misconduct cases involving judges and prosecutors. The referendum would have established a lottery system to mitigate intentional bias, removing the “political selection” process involving other magistrates or parliament members.
The reform also intended to divide the CSM into two distinct bodies: one for prosecutors and another for judges, with members of opposing factions providing oversight to prevent conflicts of interest in disciplinary actions. Additionally, it called for the establishment of an independent body outside the judiciary to oversee judges and further reduce potential biases.
Initially hesitant about the referendum, Meloni later ramped up her support for the reforms when it became evident the left-leaning opposition viewed it as a referendum on her government.
As the next elections are still over a year away, it’s uncertain how significantly the referendum results will impact voter sentiments as they head to the polls in 2027 for the next parliamentary elections.
Even with this loss, Meloni is likely to remain in a robust position. According to research from Utrend, her party, the Brothers of Italy, boasts a 29.7% approval rating, which is an increase from the 26% she secured in the 2022 elections. Moreover, her personal approval ratings remain relatively high, with a Eurobarometer survey granting her a 45% confidence rating, compared to 33% for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and 15% for French President Emmanuel Macron.
