Italy holds two-day referendum on justice reform plan

Italians will vote in a two-day referendum on whether to change the judicial system, a major project of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government.

Both houses of parliament have already approved the reform. However, since it requires a constitutional amendment, this must also be submitted to a referendum.

Critics say the plans could undermine judicial independence.

The reform will be valid if it receives a “Yes” vote instead of a “No” vote.

The referendum is also seen as a test of public support for both the right and the left ahead of the next parliamentary elections, scheduled for late 2027.

More than 46 million Italians have the right to vote. The results are expected to be announced by Monday evening.

The restructuring is one of the flagship initiatives of Meloni’s coalition of three right-wing and conservative parties, which has ruled Italy for three and a half years.

Italy’s political right has long argued that much of the judiciary is aligned with the left.

Meanwhile, the opposition accuses Meloni of trying to bring the justice system under political influence.

At the heart of the reform is a plan to separate the career paths of judges and prosecutors.

This would also create new self-governing bodies for both groups, with parliament involved in appointing members, potentially giving politicians more influence over personnel decisions.

Despite the political disagreement, there is broad agreement that Italy’s justice system requires reform, although opinions differ on how to achieve reform.

Legal proceedings often take much longer than in many other European countries, and only four in 10 Italians trust the judiciary, according to one survey.