An Italian referendum aimed at easing citizenship rules and improving labor protections has failed. This outcome follows a call from hard-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for voters to boycott the vote.
The referendum took place over two days, but only 30 percent of eligible voters participated. This turnout was far below the 50 percent plus one threshold needed for the results to be legally binding. As polls closed, it became clear that many had followed Meloni’s advice, leading to a significant defeat for the center-left opposition, which had pushed for changes to citizenship laws and labor rights.
The proposed changes included reducing the residency requirement for citizenship applications from ten years to five and reversing labor market reforms made a decade ago. Meloni openly opposed these proposals, stating she would attend the polls but would not cast a vote herself. Her government has focused on reducing irregular immigration while increasing the number of work visas for immigrants.
Maurizio Landini, the general secretary of the Italian General Confederation of Labour, criticized the low voter turnout, calling it a sign of a “clear democratic crisis” in Italy. He acknowledged the challenges faced by those advocating for change, emphasizing that many Italians had shown up to support the initiative.
The Brothers of Italy party, led by Meloni, claimed the referendum was primarily aimed at undermining the government. They shared a message on social media asserting that it was the Italians who ultimately brought down the opposition’s efforts.
In the lead-up to the referendum, opinion polls indicated that 46 percent of Italians were aware of the issues at stake. Activists and opposition parties accused the ruling coalition of intentionally dampening interest in topics that significantly impact immigrants and workers. Campaigners argued that the proposed citizenship law changes would help the children of non-EU parents integrate more fully into Italian society.
The referendum also included questions related to labor issues, such as enhancing protections against dismissal, increasing severance pay, and converting temporary contracts into permanent ones. The opposition hoped these issues would resonate with working-class voters and provide a challenge to Meloni’s government, which has been difficult since she took office in 2022.
Historically, many of the 78 referendums held in Italy have failed due to low voter turnout, and this recent event adds to that trend.