Italian citizens started casting their ballots Sunday in a critical referendum that will determine the fate of controversial court system reforms championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, marking a significant political test for her conservative government with national elections approaching next year.
The referendum asks citizens to approve constitutional modifications that would create separate career tracks for judges and public prosecutors — a divisive topic that has dominated Italian political discourse — while also dividing the nation’s judicial oversight body into two distinct organizations.
Sunday’s voting marks the culmination of an intense campaign that saw Meloni’s ‘yes’ supporters square off against center-left parties advocating for ‘no’ votes. Polling stations will remain open until 3 p.m. Monday (1400 GMT).
Opposition leaders from the Democratic Party and 5-Star Movement have cautioned that these reforms could weaken the independence of Italy’s courts and create opportunities for political meddling, claiming such changes would enable Meloni to consolidate her authority.
Meloni’s administration has pushed back against these accusations, contending that reforms are essential to address the politicized selection process within the self-governing High Council of the Judiciary (CSM), particularly following corruption scandals that revealed behind-the-scenes negotiations over top prosecutor positions.
Political observers suggest a ‘yes’ victory would provide significant momentum for Meloni as she navigates challenges from ongoing conflicts involving Iran and Italy’s sluggish economic growth during the final phase of her term.
Should the center-left opposition prevail — despite currently polling behind Meloni’s coalition — it would bolster their efforts to forge a unified front capable of mounting a serious challenge to the prime minister.
Surveys conducted before the mandatory two-week polling blackout indicated an extremely tight race, with analysts noting that Meloni’s base appeared somewhat disengaged due to the technical complexity of the judicial issues at stake.
