Italian Citizenship Referendum Fails Due to Disappointing Voter Turnout

The recent referendum aimed at reforming citizenship rules in Italy has been declared invalid due to low voter turnout, raising concerns about civic engagement and political support for the proposed changes.

A referendum in Italy seeking to amend citizenship regulations and bolster workers' rights has been rendered ineffective following an alarmingly low turnout. The crucial vote, held over two days on June 8 and 9, saw only about 30% of registered voters participating, far too short of the required 50% threshold to validate the results.

The referendum comprised five key questions, including a significant proposal to reduce the residency requirement for citizenship applications from ten years to five. Organized by a citizens’ initiative and bolstered by civil groups and unions advocating for a Yes vote, this outcome represents a significant setback for supporters.

Regions such as Sicily and Calabria recorded voter turnout dropping to as low as 22%, showcasing the widespread apathy towards the referendum. The low participation was anticipated, especially given the lack of endorsement from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right government, which many believe either overlooked the endeavor or actively discouraged voter engagement.

Political analyst Lorenzo Pregliasco commented on the outcome, indicating that the final turnout numbers did not meet the promoters' initial expectations. Meloni herself publicly stated her disapproval of the vote, asserting that the existing citizenship law is already "excellent" and supported an image shared by her party, which claimed victory over the opposition.

Opposition leader Pina Picierno of the Democratic Party noted the results as a significant defeat, attributing the failure to a lack of popular engagement and characterizing it as a "huge gift" to Meloni and her right-wing coalition. Despite the rigorous effort to gather public support—requiring half a million signatures for the referendum—some lawmakers have suggested increasing this requirement to prevent further instances of low participation.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani lamented the wasted resources expended on overseas ballots that went unutilized, reflecting on the historically low ratio of successful referendums in Italy, with only half of the 78 since World War II achieving binding status. The most notable, back in 1946, saw a high turnout favoring a republican system over the monarchy. The last successful referendum, a decade ago in 2011, overturned a privatization law regarding water services.