ROME, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Italian voters have rejected a proposed overhaul of the country's justice system in a constitutional referendum, delivering a setback for the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Results released by the Interior Ministry on Monday showed that 53.7 percent of the voters opposed the reform proposed by Meloni, while 46.3 percent supported it. Voter turnout reached approximately 60 percent.
Meloni acknowledged the outcome after results became clear, saying in a post on social media platform X that the government respected the decision made by the Italian people.
The referendum, held on March 22-23, was called to confirm or reject a constitutional reform approved by parliament in October 2025. The legislation failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in parliament, making a popular vote mandatory.
The proposed reform sought to restructure the judiciary by separating the career paths of judges and public prosecutors. Under the current system, both belong to the same professional body, enter through the same examination and are allowed to switch roles once within the first 10 years of service.
It also aimed to reform the High Council of the Judiciary, an independent body overseeing judicial discipline, by splitting it into two separate entities. Members of the new bodies would have been selected by lot, replacing the current system of election by magistrates and parliament.
The government argued that the reform would enhance fairness in the justice system, improve accountability of magistrates and reduce risks of political bias.
However, opposition parties contended that the changes would undermine judicial independence and weaken the constitutional principle of autonomy within the judiciary.
The referendum has been widely viewed as a key political test for the ruling coalition led by Meloni.
