In a major setback for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Italian voters rejected a constitutional referendum to overhaul the country's judiciary on March 23, 2026. With high voter turnout of nearly 59%, approximately 54% of voters opposed the reforms, while roughly 46% voted in favor.

 

Italian voters reject Giorgia Meloni’s plan to overhaul judiciary

In a major setback for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Italian voters rejected a constitutional referendum to overhaul the country's judiciary on March 23, 2026. With high voter turnout of nearly 59%, approximately 54% of voters opposed the reforms, while roughly 46% voted in favor.

 

Key Details of the Rejected Plan

The proposed reforms, which had already passed through both chambers of parliament but required a popular vote for constitutional amendment, aimed to:

Separate Career Paths: Legally separate the careers of judges and public prosecutors, preventing them from switching roles during their professional lives.

Restructure the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM): Split the judiciary's governing body into two separate entities—one for judges and one for prosecutors.

Implement Selection by Lottery: Change how members of these governing bodies are chosen, replacing internal elections with a lottery system to reduce political bias and the influence of internal "currents".

Establish a New Disciplinary Court: Create a Higher Disciplinary Court with 15 members to oversee judicial and prosecutorial conduct.

 

Political Context and Impact

Meloni's First Major Defeat: This result marks the first significant electoral setback for Meloni's right-wing coalition since taking office in late 2022.

Demographic Split: The "No" vote was heavily driven by younger generations, with 61% of voters aged 18 to 34 rejecting the proposals.

Government Response: Meloni conceded defeat on Monday afternoon, calling it a "missed opportunity to modernize Italy" while pledging to respect the voters' decision and continue her mandate.

Opposition Reaction: Leaders from the center-left Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement hailed the victory as a sign of renewed momentum against the governing coalition.

Future Implications: Analysts suggest the loss may weaken Meloni's standing as she approaches parliamentary elections in 2027 and could stall her other ambitious plans, such as a reform to allow the direct election of the prime minister.