A referendum in Italy aimed at easing citizenship rules and enhancing workers’ rights has been declared invalid due to a voter turnout of approximately 30%, falling short of the required 50% threshold. The poll, which took place on June 8 and 9, featured five questions, including a proposal to reduce the residency requirement for citizenship from 10 to 5 years.
The referendum was initiated by a citizens’ initiative and supported by civil society groups and trade unions, who campaigned for a “Yes” vote. Despite their efforts, the low turnout has been deemed a disappointment. Lorenzo Pregliasco, founder of YouTrend, noted that the turnout was “below the expectations and targets set by the promoters,” according to SkyTG24.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government largely ignored the referendum or actively discouraged participation. Meloni herself announced a boycott, describing the existing citizenship law as “excellent” and “very open.” She visited a polling station in Rome but did not cast a vote. After the polls closed, her party, Brothers of Italy, posted an image of opposition leaders on Instagram with the caption: “You’ve lost!” The post read: “The only real objective of this referendum was to topple the Meloni government. In the end though Italians toppled you.”
Pina Picierno of the opposition Democratic Party called the failure to reach the 50% threshold a “deep, serious and avoidable defeat” and a “huge gift to Giorgia Meloni and the right.” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani criticized the referendum process, stating: “We spent a lot of money sending… millions of ballots abroad for Italian [expats] to vote, and they’ve been wasted.”
The outcome has sparked calls to increase the threshold for calling a referendum from half a million signatures. Italy has a history of referendums, with only about half of the 78 held since World War II attracting enough votes to be binding. Notable successful referendums include the 1946 vote to replace the monarchy with a republic, as well as votes on abortion and divorce. The last referendum to reach the required threshold was in 2011, when Italians voted against a law privatizing water services.