Italian Citizenship Referendum Fails Due to Low Voter Turnout

The recent Italian referendum intended to modify citizenship regulations and bolster workers' rights has been deemed invalid due to a disappointing voter turnout, which remained around 30%, significantly below the requisite 50% for a binding decision. Conducted over the weekend, the referendum asked voters to decide on five key issues, including a proposal to reduce the period required for residency before applying for citizenship from ten years to five. The initiative received backing from various civil society groups and trade unions advocating for a Yes vote. However, participation plummeted, with some regions reporting turnout as low as 22%, especially in areas like Sicily and Calabria.

The low turnout is largely attributed to apparent disinterest from the current government, led by hard-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who actively discouraged voting and characterized the existing citizenship law as "excellent" during her public appearances. Political analysts pointed out that meeting the 50% threshold would be challenging, and the lack of enthusiasm from the government is seen as a contributing factor. Following the results, Meloni’s party cheekily celebrated the referendum's failure and labeled the opposition leaders as defeated. Critics, such as Pina Picierno from the Democratic Party, labelled this outcome a significant setback for reform efforts, considering it a "huge gift" to Meloni and the right-wing coalition.

The political climate has sparked discussions on whether to raise the number of required signatures for initiating referendums, currently set at half a million, to minimize the frequency of proposed public votes. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed concern over the financial drain associated with the unutilized ballots sent to expatriates. Historically, referendums in Italy have struggled to meet the necessary turnout, with only about half achieving that goal since World War II, marking a stark contrast to the early days of Italian referendums that saw much higher engagement from voters.