Italy’s prime minister suffered a major political setback after voters rejected a constitutional reform she had championed, dealing a rare defeat to her right-wing coalition.
Official counts gave about 54% of ballots to the No camp and roughly 46% to Yes, with turnout close to 60% in the two-day vote.
The amendment would have enshrined a stricter separation between judges and prosecutors in the constitution, created separate governing bodies and set up a new disciplinary court.
Meloni argued the package would strengthen judicial independence, while opponents warned it risked upsetting post-war checks on power and opening the judiciary to political influence.
Many voters found the technical proposal hard to follow, and the referendum rapidly became a broader judgement on Meloni’s nearly three-and-a-half years in office — a period that had otherwise delivered unusual political stability for Italy.
Meloni posted a video saying she accepted the outcome and lamented the missed opportunity to reform the system, but she ruled out resignation.
Critics urged her to reconnect with voters and rethink government priorities.
Opposition leaders cast the result as evidence that there is a viable alternative ahead of next year’s general election, while allies noted the loss has dented the prime minister’s aura of invincibility.
The defeat comes amid wider public unease over the economy and international tensions that have driven up energy costs, factors that may shape the political fight to come.
