EditMeloni’s triumph: referendum failure deepens Italy’s immigration divide
The PM opposed the referendums and urged supporters to boycott the vote
Italy’s opposition suffered a significant setback on Monday as low voter turnout derailed referendum proposals to ease citizenship laws and strengthen job protections, bolstering Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government.
Near-final data showed only about 30% of eligible voters participated over two days, well below the 50% plus one threshold required for the results to be legally binding.
The outcome, pending final counts from Italians abroad, marks a victory for Meloni, who opposed the referendums and urged supporters to boycott the vote. The failure, particularly of the citizenship reform, underscores Italy’s deep divisions over immigration and highlights structural challenges in addressing the country’s demographic and economic crises.
The referendums, backed by a coalition of centre-left parties, civil society groups, and the CGIL trade union, aimed to address two pressing issues: labour rights and Italy’s restrictive citizenship laws. The most contentious proposal sought to reduce the residency requirement for naturalization from 10 years to five, a change that could have impacted roughly 2.5 million migrants.
Other questions focused on reversing labour market liberalisations from a decade ago and expanding liability for workplace accidents involving contractors. The opposition hoped these issues would galvanize voters and challenge Meloni’s dominance since her 2022 rise to power. Instead, the low turnout handed her coalition a political win.
“The opposition wanted to turn the referendum into a vote on the Meloni government. The response is clear: the government emerges stronger, and the left is weaker,” said Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a cabinet undersecretary and close Meloni ally. Meloni herself visited a Rome polling station on Sunday but pointedly abstained, reinforcing her call for a boycott. The strategy paid off, as initial figures suggest 35% of voters opposed easing citizenship requirements, a higher “No” vote than on other questions, where “Yes” votes appeared poised for strong majorities.
Italy’s immigration conundrum
The failure of the citizenship referendum highlights Italy’s fraught relationship with immigration, a divisive issue that Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party has long exploited. Italy’s citizenship laws, among Europe’s strictest, grant automatic citizenship only to those with Italian ancestry (jus sanguinis), while non-EU migrants face a 10-year residency requirement, extensive documentation, and bureaucratic hurdles.
The proposed reduction to five years aimed to align Italy with more lenient European norms, such as Germany’s recent reforms, and address the country’s demographic crisis.
Italy faces a plummeting birth rate – 1.24 children per woman in 2024 – and an aging population, with projections estimating a 20% workforce decline by 2040. Economists argue that integrating migrants is critical to sustaining Italy’s economy, particularly its pension system and labour-intensive sectors like agriculture and construction, where migrants make up a significant share of workers.
The 2.5 million people potentially affected by the reform include long-term residents, many from North Africa, South Asia, and Eastern Europe, who contribute to the economy but lack political rights. Rights groups, campaigning for a “Yes” vote, framed the change as a step toward inclusion and social cohesion.
Yet, opposition to reform runs deep. Meloni’s coalition, including the League and Forza Italia, has capitalized on anti-immigrant sentiment, portraying migrants as a threat to Italian identity and security. Since 2022, her government has tightened migration policies, restricting sea rescues, criminalizing irregular crossings, and limiting work permits. Public opinion remains polarized: a 2024 Istat survey found 48% of Italians oppose easier citizenship, citing concerns about cultural assimilation and crime, despite evidence that migrants commit offenses at rates comparable to native-born citizens. The referendum’s 35% “No” vote, even with low turnout, reflects this resistance, fuelled by Meloni’s boycott campaign and her coalition’s narrative that liberalizing citizenship undermines national sovereignty.
Broader challenges
Italy’s immigration challenges extend beyond citizenship laws. The country’s geographic position makes it a primary entry point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean, with over 60,000 arrivals in 2024 alone, mostly from conflict-ridden or economically strained nations. Meloni’s policies, including agreements with countries like Tunisia and Libya to curb departures, have reduced arrivals compared to 2023 but drawn criticism from human rights groups for endangering migrants. Asylum processing remains slow, with backlogs exceeding 100,000 cases, leaving many in legal limbo.
Integration poses another hurdle. Migrants, even those with legal status, face discrimination in housing, employment, and education. Only 60% of non-EU residents have stable jobs, compared to 75% of Italians, according to Eurostat. The lack of citizenship rights excludes them from voting or public sector jobs, perpetuating marginalisation. The referendum’s failure entrenches this status quo, delaying reforms that could unlock economic and social benefits. Studies suggest naturalized citizens contribute more to tax revenues and GDP, as seen in countries like Canada, where streamlined citizenship boosts economic integration.
Political and economic fallout
For the opposition, the referendum’s collapse is a blow. CGIL leader Maurizio Landini, while acknowledging the failure to reach a quorum, called the millions who voted a “starting number” for future campaigns. However, the centre-left’s inability to mobilise voters reveals its struggle to counter Meloni’s populist appeal. The labour-focused referendums, aimed at reversing market liberalizations and enhancing workplace safety, also fell short, signalling broader challenges in rallying support on economic issues.
The demographic crisis looms large: without immigration, Italy’s population could shrink by 10 million by 2050, straining public finances. The referendum’s failure delays a reckoning with these realities, leaving Italy grappling with an aging workforce and a polarized society.
With Reuters, edited by g.g.
Caption: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speak to the media at the Altar of the Fatherland during the celebrations for Republic Day ‘Festa della Repubblica’ at the Fori Imperiali, Rome, Italy, 2 June 2024. [EPA-EFE/ANGELO CARCONI]
Updated: June 10, 2025 - 06:12
