Italy: Low voter participation derails citizenship and labor referendums

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's opposition to the citizenship and labor referendums appears to have paid off as both are set to fail due to low voter turnout.

The center-left opposition and labor unions had promoted the referendums, which aimed to enhance workplace protections and streamline the process for non-EU immigrants to obtain Italian citizenship. The low participation rate suggests that Meloni's call for a boycott resonated with the public, as turnout was well below the required 50% plus one threshold for the referendums to be legally binding.

The referendums focused on several key labor issues: improved safeguards against dismissals, increased severance pay, enhanced unemployment benefits, the abolition of fixed-term contracts, and better compensation for workplace accidents. The citizenship referendum would have allowed non-EU immigrants to apply for Italian passports after five years of residency rather than the current requirement of 10 years. This change would have affected approximately 2.5 million individuals.

Proponents of the citizenship reform argued that it was necessary to address Italy's declining birth rates and to better integrate foreign workers to bolster the economy. However, Meloni's coalition government and right-wing supporters have expressed concerns about immigration and its impact on national identity and the labor market.

The low turnout is a significant victory for Meloni, who had encouraged her supporters not to participate in the voting process. This outcome indicates that the opposition's attempt to use the referendums as a political tool to challenge the government's policies may have backfired. Polling data shows that turnout was higher in the industrialized north and in urban areas with strong support for left-leaning parties, but these numbers were not sufficient to meet the required threshold.

Cabinet undersecretary and Meloni ally Giovanbattista Fazzolari stated that the low turnout signifies a clear message of support for the government and a weakening of the opposition's position. Polling expert Lorenzo Pregliasco of YouTrend noted that the figures were below the promoters' expectations and targets, highlighting the failure of the opposition to mobilize voters effectively. The results of the referendums will likely bolster Meloni's position and potentially deter future opposition-led referendums.