ROME (AP) 鈥� Italian voters on Monday rejected a judicial reform backed by conservative Premier , delivering a stinging setback to the right-wing government one year ahead of national elections.
鈥淚talian citizens have decided and we respect their decision as always,鈥� Meloni said in a video posted on Instagram. She pledged, as anticipated, to complete her mandate, which runs into 2027.
鈥淲e will move forward as we always have: with responsibility, determination, and above all, with respect for Italy and its people,鈥� Meloni said, admitting some 鈥渞egret for a missed opportunity to modernize Italy.鈥�
The 鈥淣o鈥� camp won almost 54% of the vote against the government鈥慴acked 鈥淵es鈥� campaign, which secured about 46%, according to final results released by the Interior Ministry.
Turnout over the two鈥慸ay ballot, which began Sunday, was considerably higher than expected at almost 59% following a polarizing campaign. It energized the center鈥憀eft opposition, which framed the reform as a threat to judicial independence, while simultaneously exposing divisions within Meloni鈥檚 right鈥憌ing coalition.
The proposed judicial reform had been billed by Meloni鈥檚 coalition as a key step toward streamlining Italy鈥檚 judicial system 鈥� 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 borders. The Italian premier faces growing scrutiny over her controversial alignment with and his increasingly unpopular .
鈥淚taly has defied its reputation for government instability in recent years,鈥� said Jess Middleton, senior Europe analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft. 鈥淭his defeat punctures Meloni鈥檚 image of strength, weakening her status as a pillar of domestic stability and as a consistent player in an increasingly volatile European political landscape.鈥�
Analysts also noted that the referendum win provides a major boost to the center-left opposition, with frustrations around the government鈥檚 performance on the economy and the war in the Middle East coming into focus throughout the campaign.
鈥淭he key question now is whether these disparate opposition forces can maintain some cohesion and present themselves as a credible alternative ahead of next year鈥檚 vote,鈥� Middleton said.
Elly Schlein, leader of the center-left Democratic Party, hailed the referendum result and said opposition forces would remain united.
鈥淲e’ll continue to work together and we’ll build a real alternative to this government,鈥� she said at a news conference celebrating the 鈥淣o鈥� victory.
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