A referendum aimed at loosening Italy’s strict citizenship rules and enhancing labor protections has failed after falling short of the required voter turnout, marking a victory for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government, which opposed the measure.
The two-day vote, which concluded Monday, needed at least 50% participation to be valid but saw just over 30% of eligible voters cast ballots. The referendum—initiated by grassroots activists and supported by the center-left Democratic Party (PD)—sought to shorten the lengthy citizenship process for non-EU residents.
Currently, non-EU adults without family ties to Italy must reside in the country for 10 years before applying for citizenship, with the approval process often taking additional years. A successful referendum would have reduced the residency requirement to five years, aligning Italy with nations like Germany and France.
However, Meloni’s government, which has focused on curbing irregular immigration despite increasing legal migrant work permits, actively discouraged participation, with the prime minister stating she was “absolutely against” the proposal. The low turnout reflects the government’s successful boycott campaign, reinforcing its hardline stance on citizenship and immigration policies.
