Trending Now - Italy's Tourism Minister Steps Down Amid Meloni's Pressure

WHO:

Daniela Santanchè, Italy’s tourism minister

Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy

Brothers of Italy party

Two justice ministry officials

WHAT:

Daniela Santanchè resigned from her position as tourism minister

The resignation followed the defeat of a referendum on judicial reforms

The referendum was seen as a de facto confidence test on Meloni's leadership

Santanchè stated she did not want to be made “a scapegoat” for the referendum defeat

The judicial reforms were intended to streamline Italy’s judicial system

WHERE:

Italy

Lombardy, a northern region of Italy

WHEN:

Santanchè resigned on Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

The referendum took place on Monday, March 23rd, 2026

Santanchè survived a no-confidence motion in 2023

WHY:

Meloni demanded Santanchè’s resignation after the referendum defeat

The referendum was widely seen as a test of Meloni's leadership

Critics argued that the proposed judicial reforms risked concentrating too much power in the executive branch

HOW:

Santanchè announced her resignation in a statement to Meloni

Meloni expressed hope that Santanchè would resign “in the same spirit of institutional sensitivity”

(UPDATED March 26, 2026 11:19 UTC)

On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, Italy’s tourism minister, Daniela Santanchè, resigned following the defeat of a referendum on judicial reforms that was viewed as a confidence test for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's leadership. Santanchè stated she did not want to be made “a scapegoat” for the referendum's failure, which critics argued could concentrate too much power in the executive branch. Meloni had demanded Santanchè’s resignation after the vote, expressing hope that it would come “in the same spirit of institutional sensitivity.”