Referendum on Citizenship Laws Falls Short
On June 8 and 9, Italians participated in a two-day referendum aimed at reforming citizenship laws among other issues. The key proposal sought to reduce the residency requirement for non-EU adults applying for Italian citizenship from 10 years to 5 years. Despite the significant implications of this change, which could impact around 2.5 million foreign nationals, the referendum failed to achieve the necessary voter turnout of over 50 percent to be considered valid.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had openly opposed the citizenship reform and urged citizens to abstain from voting. Her stance, along with a lack of public debate as criticized by left-wing parties, contributed to the low participation. Reports indicate that senior figures in Meloni's coalition viewed the outcome as a boost to the government’s position.
Opposition Efforts and Public Response
The referendum was initially promoted by Riccardo Magi, secretary of More Europe, alongside parties such as Possibile, Italian Socialist Party, Italian Radicals, and Communist Refoundation Party. Over 637,000 signatures were collected to push for this vote, reflecting significant grassroots support for easing naturalization processes. The opposition, including Italy’s CGIL labor union, had gathered millions of signatures earlier in March to trigger the referendum.
However, the public response was underwhelming, with many Italians seemingly unaware of or uninterested in the vote. Posts found on X highlighted a general lack of awareness and suggested that the government's discouragement played a role in dampening interest. Organizers, despite the setback, noted that the referendum succeeded in restarting public debate on critical issues like immigration and labor rights.
Broader Implications of the Referendum Failure
Beyond citizenship, the referendum also addressed labor reforms, including proposals to abolish certain provisions of the Jobs Act from 2016 regarding unlawful dismissals and term limits on employment contracts. These measures similarly failed due to insufficient turnout, marking a broader defeat for opposition efforts to challenge existing policies under Meloni’s administration.
The failure of these referendums raises questions about the effectiveness of such mechanisms in driving policy change in Italy, especially when faced with governmental opposition and public disengagement. While the immediate outcome strengthens the current administration's stance, it also underscores ongoing tensions over immigration and workers' rights that are likely to persist in Italy's political landscape.