Trending Now - Meloni Faces Setback as Italian Voters Reject Judicial Reform

WHO:

Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy

Italian voters

WHAT:

In the provinces of Rome, the “no” vote was 57 percent, in Milan it was 54 percent, and in Naples it was 71 percent.

Approximately 50 prosecutors and judges in Naples celebrated the referendum outcome by opening champagne and singing "Bella Ciao."

Activists, students, and trade unionists marched to Rome’s Piazza del Popolo chanting “resign, resign.”

Italian voters rejected a judicial reform backed by Meloni in a referendum.

The outcome is described as a major political setback for Meloni's right-wing government.

WHERE:

Italy

WHEN:

The referendum took place in March 2026.

WHY:

The referendum was perceived by many as a vote of confidence in Meloni's government.

HOW:

Meloni stated in a video, “The Italians have decided and we will respect that decision,” and expressed feeling some “bitterness for the lost opportunity … but we will go on as we always have with responsibility, determination and respect for Italy and its people.”

Matteo Renzi, former prime minister and leader of the centrist Italia Viva party, remarked that Meloni would now be a “lame duck,” suggesting that “even her own followers will now start to doubt her.”

The judicial reform was presented as a constitutional reform in the referendum.

(UPDATED March 24, 2026 01:44 UTC)

In a significant referendum outcome, voters in the provinces of Rome, Milan, and Naples overwhelmingly rejected the proposal, with "no" votes at 57 percent, 54 percent, and 71 percent, respectively. In Naples, around 50 prosecutors and judges celebrated the result with champagne and the song "Bella Ciao," while activists and trade unionists marched in Rome's Piazza del Popolo demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Meloni. Meloni acknowledged the decision in a video, expressing her disappointment but vowing to continue leading with responsibility, while former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi suggested that Meloni's position may now be weakened among her supporters.

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(UPDATED March 23, 2026 23:45 UTC)

In a significant political development, Italian voters have rejected a judicial reform backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in a referendum held this month. This outcome is being described as a major setback for Meloni's right-wing government, as many viewed the referendum as a vote of confidence in her leadership. The proposed reform was framed as a constitutional change, but it ultimately did not gain the support needed from the electorate.