Italy officially recognizes the failure of the two-day referendum that aimed to significantly change the country’s labor laws and simplify the process of obtaining Italian citizenship
According to the vote results, voter turnout at polling stations was only about 29.15%, rendering the referendum results legally invalid and depriving them of binding power. This means that the citizens’ initiative, supported by more than 4.5 million Italians’ signatures—far exceeding the minimum required level—was not implemented. This referendum was part of a broader political struggle centered around labor rights and the demographic crisis in the country. It is worth noting that its initiators were left- and centrist forces, civic organizations, and the CGIL trade union structure, which utilized the issues of labor policy and the growing labor shortage to put pressure on the right-wing government coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The preconditions for the vote were serious: the signers collected over 4.5 million signatures—well above the legal threshold—making the referendum process possible. The agenda included five questions: four related to reforms in labor legislation and one concerning citizenship. The voting data showed that those who participated expressed support for the proposed changes; however, due to low public activity, the results were politically ineffectual. The government’s political reaction also followed: proposals to amend the referendum law are already being discussed, as the significant public expenditure on organizing the vote in such an unfavorable period for the authorities proved to be quite fruitless. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, in an official comment, stated: “This was an obvious victory for the government over the opposition, which sought to attack the government through this referendum. The failure of the left and centrist forces, who wanted to use this platform to destabilize the political course, can be considered a complete defeat for the opposition. The authorities strengthened their position, while their opponents weakened theirs.” In recent months, Italian authorities have been actively working on addressing illegal employment. In 2024, the government announced the abolition of over 3,000 work permits for illegal workers, aiming to legalize employment and combat the shadow economy. Additionally, the country plans to create approximately 10,000 additional work visas for caregivers of the elderly and persons with disabilities, which should contribute not only to reducing illegal employment but also to improving social service conditions. Like many other European countries, Italy is facing a demographic crisis deeply felt across the nation. Authorities emphasize that reforms and new policies are aimed at attracting foreign workers to support the national economy, increase birth rates, and stabilize the social sphere. It is expected that in the near future, the government will adopt additional measures to improve working conditions and create a supportive environment for attracting foreigners to work in Italy, considering the needs of the social sector and efforts to combat illegal migration. Thus, although the Italian referendum did not achieve its goal, it vividly demonstrates the complex balance of political interests, civic activity, and the challenges facing the country in labor policy and immigration. Despite the unsuccessful voting outcome, Italy’s political elite does not plan to stop, as the fight for labor law reform and citizenship remains one of the key topics in the country’s internal politics.