A two-day referendum has begun in Italy on whether to overhaul the country’s justice system.
March 22, 2026, 9:17 amMarch 22, 2026, 9:17 am
The two chambers of parliament have already approved the right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s plan. However, because the constitution needs to be changed for the judicial reform, there will now be a referendum. Critics see the independence of the judiciary at risk.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.Image: keystone
The reform is accepted if there are more yes votes than no votes. The referendum is also seen as a mood test for the right and left camps before the next parliamentary election, which is planned for autumn 2027. The result of the referendum is expected by Monday evening. More than 46 million Italians are eligible to vote.
Meloni’s central project
The project is one of the central projects of the coalition of three right-wing and conservative parties with which Meloni has governed Rome for three and a half years. Italy’s right-wing camp has been complaining for decades that large parts of the judiciary are on the left’s side. The opposition, in turn, accuses the Prime Minister of wanting to make the judiciary oblige.
The core of the reform is to separate the careers of judges and prosecutors. There will also be new self-governing bodies for judges and prosecutors. Parliament should be involved in their appointment. This would give politicians more influence on personnel decisions.
Despite all the controversy, most people agree that there is indeed a need for reform in the Italian justice system. It takes significantly longer there than in many other countries for justice to be dispensed. According to a survey, only four out of ten Italians trust their justice system. (sda/dpa)