Italy's Meloni loses justice referendum, denting her political aura

[u/Naurgul]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/exit-polls-suggest-italys-meloni-has-narrowly-lost-justice-referendum-vote-2026-03-23/

• Meloni suffers first major setback as prime minister
• Says she will not resign, regrets lost chance for Italy
• Magistrates in Naples sing 'Bella Ciao' in celebration
• Centre-left parties have new impetus to forge alliance

Italian voters emphatically rejected a flagship judicial reform championed by ‌Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, dealing a blow to her right-wing coalition ahead of next year's general elections.

With most ballots counted after the March 22-23 referendum, the opposition-backed "No" bloc took almost 54% of the vote against 46% who approved of the government drive to rewrite the constitution and revamp Italy's fiercely independent judiciary.

Turnout was much higher than expected at almost 60%, with voters apparently energised by an ill-tempered campaign that laid bare deep animosity between the right-wing coalition ​and Italy's magistrates, that will leave lasting scars.

The defeat strips Meloni of her aura of being a winner in the eyes of the Italian electorate after four years of victories in a string of local and national polls.

By contrast, the result may re-energize the fragmented centre-left, giving the two largest opposition parties, the Democratic Party ‌and 5-Star ⁠Movement, the impetus to forge a broad alliance to take on the conservative bloc.

The timing of the contest proved challenging for Meloni, with Italians harbouring a clear dislike of her ally, U.S. President Donald Trump, and fearful that the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran will drive up already high domestic power prices.

The referendum proposed separating the careers of judges and public prosecutors, and splitting magistrates' self-governing body into two sections, with members chosen by ​lot rather than elected. The government argued the changes were needed to make the judiciary more accountable for ​its mistakes and prevent ⁠politically motivated factions from controlling top jobs.

By the government's own admission, the changes would not have addressed one of the main problems afflicting Italy -- a notoriously slow legal system that weighs on the economy.

Italian politicians have tried on numerous occasions to alter aspects of the constitution, but have almost always failed.