Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has lost a key referendum on a constitutional reform which had turned into a vote on her government. The result gives around 54% to the 'No' campaign and 46% to the 'Yes' vote which Meloni had backed. In a video posted on social media even before all the ballots were counted, Meloni said Italians had voted 'with clarity' and she would respect their decision, but she regretted a 'lost chance to modernise' the country.
This marks the first significant defeat for Meloni and her right-wing coalition, which has overseen a rare period of political stability for Italy. Opposition parties are hailing the result as a sign that voters are seeking change, in light of a general election due next year. When the two-day referendum ended, exit polls showed the 'No' vote leading by a small margin, which steadily increased as votes were counted. Despite the complex question on the ballot, turnout was nearly 60%, defying expectations that high turnout would favor the government.
The reform voters rejected sought to separate judges and prosecutors within Italy's constitution, which the government argued was essential to improving judicial independence. The opposition contended that it would disrupt a delicate balance of powers established post-fascism and increase political influence over the judiciary.
Many Italians struggled to grasp the technical details, which contributed to the vote evolving into a plebiscite on Meloni's nearly three and a half years in office. Challenges include economic stagnation and increasing concerns about the war in the Middle East, influencing public opinion against Meloni and her policies.
With her close alliance to Donald Trump also becoming problematic, Meloni has promised not to resign, unlike former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in 2016 who stepped down after losing a referendum. After the results, critics like Renzi assert that Meloni's government needs to engage more with voter concerns as a means to maintain credibility and authority in the political arena. The defeat has diminished Meloni's stronghold in Italian politics, leaving her government looking more vulnerable than before.
This marks the first significant defeat for Meloni and her right-wing coalition, which has overseen a rare period of political stability for Italy. Opposition parties are hailing the result as a sign that voters are seeking change, in light of a general election due next year. When the two-day referendum ended, exit polls showed the 'No' vote leading by a small margin, which steadily increased as votes were counted. Despite the complex question on the ballot, turnout was nearly 60%, defying expectations that high turnout would favor the government.
The reform voters rejected sought to separate judges and prosecutors within Italy's constitution, which the government argued was essential to improving judicial independence. The opposition contended that it would disrupt a delicate balance of powers established post-fascism and increase political influence over the judiciary.
Many Italians struggled to grasp the technical details, which contributed to the vote evolving into a plebiscite on Meloni's nearly three and a half years in office. Challenges include economic stagnation and increasing concerns about the war in the Middle East, influencing public opinion against Meloni and her policies.
With her close alliance to Donald Trump also becoming problematic, Meloni has promised not to resign, unlike former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in 2016 who stepped down after losing a referendum. After the results, critics like Renzi assert that Meloni's government needs to engage more with voter concerns as a means to maintain credibility and authority in the political arena. The defeat has diminished Meloni's stronghold in Italian politics, leaving her government looking more vulnerable than before.
