SHORT PROFILE: Italy's Meloni faces first major setback as prime minister as justice referendum fails

Record ID: 2368330

  • Title: SHORT PROFILE: Italy's Meloni faces first major setback as prime minister as justice referendum fails
  • Date: 28th January 2025
  • Summary: Meloni kicked off the G7 summit in Borgo Egnazia on June 13 with the Ukraine and Gaza crises on top of the agenda. BORGO EGNAZIA, ITALY (FILE - JUNE 13, 2024) (HOST BROADCASTER POOL) G7 LEADERS ROUNDTABLE MELONI SPEAKING Meloni welcomes Ukraine's Zelenskiy at the G7 summit. BORGO EGNAZIA, ITALY (FILE - JUNE 13, 2024) (HOST BROADCASTER POOL) VARIOUS OF UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT,
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: BROTHERS OF ITALY GOVERNMENT ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIORGIA MELONI ITALY ROME
  • Location: VARIOUS
  • City: VARIOUS
  • Country: Various
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00C382811082023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Italian voters have rejected a flagship judicial reform championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on Monday (March 23), dealing a blow to her right-wing coalition ahead of next year's general elections.
    The opposition-backed "No" bloc will secure around 54% of the vote held on Sunday and Monday, against 46% for the government's "Yes" camp, according to projections based on the ongoing vote count.
    Meloni conceded defeat in a government-promoted referendum to reform the justice system, saying on social media that the result was "a lost opportunity to modernize Italy."
    The defeat might mark a turning point for Meloni, stripping her of the aura of being a winner in the eyes of the Italian electorate after four years of victories in local and national polls.
    The timing of the contest proved challenging for Meloni, with Italians harboring a clear dislike of her ally, U.S. President Donald Trump, and fearful that the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran will drive up already high domestic power prices.
    The referendum proposed separating the careers of judges and public prosecutors, and splitting magistrates' self-governing body, the High Council of the Judiciary (CSM), into two sections, with members chosen by lot rather than elected.
    (Production: Matteo Negri)
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