Italian Voters Reject Judicial Reform  03/24 06:09

   

   ROME (AP) -- Italian voters on Monday rejected a judicial reform backed by 
conservative Premier Giorgia Meloni, delivering a stinging setback to the 
right-wing government one year ahead of national elections.

   "Italian citizens have decided and we respect their decision as always," 
Meloni said in a video posted on Instagram. She pledged, as anticipated, to 
complete her mandate, which runs into 2027.

   "We will move forward as we always have: with responsibility, determination, 
and above all, with respect for Italy and its people," Meloni said, admitting 
some "regret for a missed opportunity to modernize Italy."

   The "No" camp won almost 54% of the vote against the governmentbacked 
"Yes" campaign, which secured about 46%, according to final results released by 
the Interior Ministry.

   Turnout over the twoday ballot, which began Sunday, was considerably 
higher than expected at almost 59% following a polarizing campaign. It 
energized the centerleft opposition, which framed the reform as a threat to 
judicial independence, while simultaneously exposing divisions within Meloni's 
rightwing coalition.

   The proposed judicial reform had been billed by Meloni's coalition as a key 
step toward streamlining Italy's judicial system -- long criticized as slow, 
bureaucratic, and vulnerable to political influence.

   But critics argued that the measures risked concentrating too much power in 
the executive branch. Opposition parties, civil society groups and legal 
associations mounted a unified front, warning that the reform could undermine 
institutional checks and balances.

   With political tensions already running high, public debate intensified in 
the final weeks before the vote, turning it into a de facto confidence test on 
Meloni's leadership itself.

   The defeat, especially after a campaign so closely tied to her personal 
leadership, raises questions about the stability and cohesion of Meloni's 
governing coalition.

   The stakes extend beyond Italy's borders. The Italian premier faces growing 
scrutiny over her controversial alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump and 
his increasingly unpopular war on Iran.

   "Italy has defied its reputation for government instability in recent 
years," said Jess Middleton, senior Europe analyst at risk intelligence company 
Verisk Maplecroft. "This defeat punctures Meloni's image of strength, weakening 
her status as a pillar of domestic stability and as a consistent player in an 
increasingly volatile European political landscape."

   Analysts also noted that the referendum win provides a major boost to the 
center-left opposition, with frustrations around the government's performance 
on the economy and the war in the Middle East coming into focus throughout the 
campaign.

   "The key question now is whether these disparate opposition forces can 
maintain some cohesion and present themselves as a credible alternative ahead 
of next year's vote," Middleton said.

   Elly Schlein, leader of the center-left Democratic Party, hailed the 
referendum result and said opposition forces would remain united.

   "We'll continue to work together and we'll build a real alternative to this 
government," she said at a news conference celebrating the "No" victory.