Particle.news

Meloni Bloc’s Boycott Invalidates Italian Citizenship and Labor Referendums

The failed vote leaves Meloni’s government emboldened as opposition struggles to mobilize support for immigration and labor changes.

Overview

  • Voter turnout hovered around 30%, well below the 50% plus one quorum required to make the June 8–9 referendums legally binding.
  • Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her right-wing coalition urged supporters to abstain, effectively neutralizing the center-left and union-backed campaign.
  • The ballot included proposals to cut the residency requirement for non-EU citizens from 10 to 5 years and to reverse labor market liberalizations on dismissals, severance and contractor liability.
  • Data from YouTrend showed turnout was highest in wealthier northern regions and major cities and lowest in the less developed south, reflecting regional and partisan divides.
  • A Reuters poll published Tuesday put Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party at just above 30% support, outpacing the center-left Democratic Party and underscoring the government’s strengthened position.