Italy’s recent government-backed referendum on judicial reform has failed, marking a setback for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. However, the result is unlikely to destabilise her right-wing government, as the coalition continues to enjoy strong support in national polls. The left-wing opposition remains fragmented, and only a few members have called for Meloni’s resignation at this stage.
In the Italian constitutional referendum held on March 22–23, voters decisively rejected the proposed reform. The “No” vote prevailed with about 53–54 per cent, while the “Yes” vote received roughly 46–47 per cent, with an overall turnout of around 58–59 per cent of eligible voters; the outcome confirmed the public’s rejection of the government-backed measures.
At the core of the referendum were technical reforms aimed at restructuring Italy’s judiciary. Most notably, the proposal sought to separate the careers of judges and prosecutors. Currently, magistrates belong to a single professional body and can switch between prosecutorial and judging roles during their careers. The reform would have created two distinct career tracks, with separate governing bodies, recruitment systems, and career paths.
The package also included revisions to the composition and election mechanisms of the High Council of the Judiciary, the body responsible for appointments, promotions, and disciplinary oversight of magistrates. These measures were presented as a way to reduce internal politicisation and increase transparency in judicial governance.
Beyond the technical reforms, the referendum carried a clear political dimension. The government has long argued that internal factions within the judiciary—known as “currents”—wield disproportionate influence and tend to lean Left politically. By restructuring career paths and governance, the reform sought to weaken these networks and limit their influence on judicial decisions and appointments. Critics, however, warned that the changes risked undermining judicial independence by increasing political control over the judiciary.
In the immediate aftermath, opposition parties described the referendum result as a political blow to Meloni’s leadership, but they stopped short of calling for her immediate resignation. The current Democratic Party (PD) leader, Elly Schlein, commented at a press conference: “We will beat her in a year”, referring to the 2027 national elections for parliament and the premiership. Similarly, the Five Star Movement (M5S) leader Giuseppe Conte, the second-strongest opposition force according to polls, described the result as “a new political season, a new spring,” emphasising that the referendum sends “a clear eviction notice to this government.”
The fact that the two main opposition leaders are not calling for Meloni’s resignation reflects not only the strong polling of the government coalition, but also the uncertainty over who among them will be the centre-left candidate for prime minister in the next elections, and whether the left-wing forces can unite effectively against her. Discussions are also emerging about a broad left-wing alliance, the so-called campo largo, and potential primaries to select a unified centre-left leadership.
Meloni had anticipated a potential defeat and repeatedly stated that a “No” outcome would not prompt her resignation, framing the referendum as part of a longer-term reform agenda rather than a test of her leadership. Following the results, she reaffirmed her commitment to govern and pursue institutional changes through other channels.
Looking ahead, Meloni has signalled her readiness to carry her platform into the next general elections in 2027. With polling trends still favourable and the opposition divided, the failed referendum appears more a tactical setback than a threat to Italy’s right-wing government.
