Italy Referendum: ‘No’ Vote Wins on Judiciary Reform – Results

Italians have rejected proposed reforms to the country’s justice system, with the “No” vote securing a decisive victory in a referendum concluded Monday, March 23, 2026. Final results indicate approximately 53.5% of voters opposed the changes, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior.

The referendum, held on March 22nd and 23rd, centered on a proposed overhaul of the Italian judicial system, including the separation of careers for judges and prosecutors and the creation of a dual system for self-governance within the magistracy. The reforms, championed by the center-right governing coalition, aimed to address perceived inefficiencies and imbalances within the justice system.

The outcome represents a significant setback for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government. Meloni acknowledged the result, stating via social media that her administration “respects this decision” and would “head forward…with responsibility, determination and respect towards the Italian people and towards Italy.”

Matteo Renzi, a former Prime Minister, used the result to challenge Meloni, referencing his own resignation after a referendum defeat ten years prior. “When the people speak, the Palazzo must listen,” Renzi stated, questioning whether Meloni would demonstrate the same “courage” by resigning after a “clamorous defeat.”

Regional leaders also weighed in on the outcome. Marco Bucci, President of the Liguria Region, stated that the vote should be “respected” and represented a “signal of health for our democracy,” noting the high level of voter participation. Roberto Arboscello, Vice President of the Ligurian Regional Council, emphasized the vote as a defense of the Italian Constitution and the balance of power between state branches.

In the Liguria region, the “No” vote was even more pronounced, reaching 57.04%, while support for the “Yes” side remained below 43%. The province of La Spezia mirrored this trend, with the “No” campaign winning by approximately 11 percentage points, securing 55% of the vote within the province and its capital city.

The rejected reforms would have altered seven articles of the Italian Constitution (87, 102, 104, 105, 106, 107 and 110), fundamentally changing the structure of the judiciary. Specifically, the proposed changes would have separated the careers of investigating and adjudicating magistrates and established three separate self-governing bodies for the magistracy, replacing the current single Council of the Judiciary (CSM).

With the “No” vote prevailing, the existing judicial order remains in place. The magistracy will continue to function as an autonomous and independent body, without a rigid separation between investigating and judging roles. The CSM will retain its current structure as a single governing body, with elections conducted directly by magistrates. The existing disciplinary procedures and processes will also remain unchanged.

The high voter turnout, reaching 58.93% nationally, exceeded expectations and is believed by some analysts to have favored the “No” campaign. Despite earlier polling data suggesting a slight advantage for the “Yes” side, the “No” vote gained momentum in the lead-up to the referendum.