Meloni suffers first major defeat as voters reject judicial reform

Rome, Mar 23 (EFE).- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suffered her first major political defeat after voters rejected her controversial judicial reform in a constitutional referendum marked by unexpectedly high turnout, with the “no” vote prevailing.

Camera: Daniel Cáceres.

Footage of the gathering in Rome celebrating the “no” vote in the constitutional referendum at Piazza Barberini.

Includes statements from:

Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Five Star Movement:

“That difference we see today—those two million more voters who said ‘no’—is worth much more than all the lies that were told, even by the prime minister. This is a political vote, a very strong signal. It has been debated whether it is a technical or political vote. It is political, because it was born as a political referendum, with no investment in improving justice, but rather an attempt to assert the primacy of politics over justice.”

Elly Schlein, secretary of the Democratic Party (PD):

“An extraordinary democratic participation, a major popular mobilization stopped a flawed reform that would not improve justice for citizens and would have altered the balance of powers established by our Constitution. This is a mobilization in defense of our Constitution, which belongs to everyone, not to one party. The majority voted ‘no’ not only to stop a wrong reform, but also against the arrogance of a government that wanted to change it unilaterally.”