Justice referendum defeat dents ‘winner’ Italian Prime Minister Meloni’s image

The vote was on a complex reform of the Italian justice system, long a right-wing rallying cry. But it largely became a referendum on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Photo / Getty Images

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who suffered a major blow after a justice reform she had proposed was voted down, has until now been on a winning streak ahead of elections next year.

The Opposition pitched the referendum as a vote on far-right leader Meloni’s leadership after more than three years in power and quickly capitalised on the result.

With almost all ballots counted on the referendum, which concerned the role and oversight of judges and prosecutors, the “No” camp was at almost 54% compared to just over 46% for “Yes”, according to official figures.

Elly Schlein, head of the main centre-left Democratic Party, criticised Meloni’s “arrogance” and said she should “listen to the country and its true priorities”.

Matteo Renzi, an ex-PM who resigned after himself losing a referendum almost a decade ago, said “let’s see if she has the courage to step down”.

“When a leader loses their magic touch, everyone around them begins to doubt and they cannot just pretend nothing happened,” he told Radio Leopolda.

The vote was on a complex reform of the justice system, long a right-wing rallying cry.

But it largely became a referendum on Meloni.

The Prime Minister herself has insisted she will stay on, and analysts were less categorical about the immediate consequences of the result.

“I don’t think this is going to have any impact on the stability of the Government, which is now arguably the most stable in the history of the republic,” Daniele Albertazzi, professor of politics at the United Kingdom’s University of Surrey, told AFP.

“But it will have a considerable impact on her in terms of her image and her narrative of being a winner,” Albertazzi said.

The left-wing La Repubblica daily called it Meloni’s “first real defeat”, in an editorial.

Trump ties ‘damaged’ Meloni

Despite differences within her right-wing coalition, Meloni’s Government has proved remarkably stable since coming to power in 2022.

The 49-year-old has also won over many critics with her down-to-earth leadership style. Her praise as a teen activist for fascist leader Benito Mussolini has been overshadowed by her record in government.

While Italy’s economy remains heavily indebted, growth has held up - also thanks to a massive influx of cash from the European Union’s post-Covid recovery fund.

On the international scene, she has sought to position Italy as a voice of moderation amid the sometimes strident rhetoric between United States President Donald Trump and the EU.

But her proximity to Trump has also drawn increasing criticism, particularly over his policies in the Middle East.

There is concern in Italy, which is highly dependent on energy imports, over the effect of the Iran war on petrol prices.

Carlo Calenda, an Opposition senator, said on X that in his view her “proximity to Trump has damaged Meloni and her Government a lot”.

Ahead of parliamentary elections next year, there has also been more scrutiny of her record.

Irregular immigration - a key campaign issue for Meloni and her allies - is down, but the Government has also ramped up the number of visas for non-EU legal workers.

Rome has increased penalties on protesters and cracked down on security but has yet to confront the structural issues that many believe hold Italy back.

Surveys show Italians are most concerned about purchasing power, with wages stagnating.

Another major complaint is the state of the public health system, investment in which has not kept pace with inflation.

Debt remains an eye-watering 137% of gross domestic product and growth was just 0.5% last year.

-Agence France-Presse