FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The defeat exposes the Prime Minister's vulnerability and changes the dynamics before the elections
The defeat of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the referendum on judicial reform is widely seen as a sign that she is politically vulnerable. It throws her off course at the very moment she was aiming for major electoral reforms that would further strengthen her grip on power. One of the main objectives was to move to a fixed-term prime minister, directly elected by the people and not dependent on shifting parliamentary majorities. Those ambitions now look much more fragile.
Opposition forces, which have so far struggled to weaken Meloni's dominance, reacted immediately, interpreting the result as proof that she can be defeated. After months on the defensive, they argue that a coordinated campaign could mobilize voters against her.
Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, leader of the Viva party, predicted that Meloni could become a “weakened leader,” saying that even her supporters could start to doubt her. He recalled that she had resigned after losing a referendum in 2016 and added: “Let’s see what Meloni will do after this sensational defeat.”
Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party, declared: “We will defeat Meloni in the next elections, I am sure.” She emphasized that the high voter turnout sends a clear political message and that the government must listen to the real priorities of citizens.
Former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, leader of the 5 Star Movement, described the result as the start of a "new spring and a new political season."
While Angelo Bonelli from the Green and Left Alliance said that the result is an important signal that shows the existence of a majority against the government.
The referendum focused on changes to the way judges and prosecutors are governed and disciplined, including career separation and a reformatting of oversight bodies. The government presented these reforms as necessary to correct a system where politicized factions obstruct the implementation of key policies, such as those on migration and security.
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio called prosecutors a "parallel mafia," while his chief of staff compared parts of the judicial system to an "execution squad."
Meloni's opponents saw the reforms differently, seeing them as an attempt to weaken an independent justice system and centralize power. This interpretation helped turn a technical vote into a broader political showdown around which the opposition managed to mobilize.
The clash reflects a long and tense political history. The “Mani Pulite” investigations of the 1990s, which brought down an entire political class, left a legacy of distrust between politics and the judiciary. The right, in particular, has often accused judges of a politically motivated campaign against them.
Under Meloni, these tensions have repeatedly resurfaced, with the government clashing with the courts and accusing them of obstructing anti-migration and anti-crime policies.
Meloni became directly involved in the final stages of the campaign, having initially kept her distance, believing that her personal involvement could influence the outcome. She called the referendum a “historic opportunity to change Italy” and warned that without reform the system would deteriorate.
However, her efforts have not yielded results. The timing of the referendum has also not been in her favor. Her ally, US President Donald Trump, remains unpopular in Italy, while international tensions and the war in Iran have heightened concerns about rising energy prices.
The main consequence is that the political dynamics in Italy have entered a new phase.
For Meloni, the temptation is to quickly regain the initiative. One option could be to push for early elections, before economic pressures mount and key EU funds are cut later in the year.
According to political scientist Roberto D'Alimonte of Luiss University in Rome, the logic of early elections would be to avoid a gradual decline in support. However, President Sergio Mattarella has the final say on the dissolution of parliament, and deputies could try to block this because of their own interests, including the benefits associated with the mandate.
D'Alimonte points out that Meloni's position has been damaged: "there is no doubt that she comes out weaker from this. The loss changes the perception of her. Until now she was a winner, now she has shown that she can lose."
In this situation, Meloni must decide whether to identify those responsible for the defeat within the government, with Justice Minister Nordio seen as a possible candidate.
She is expected to act quickly to regain control of the political agenda. A visit to Algeria to advance energy cooperation could also serve to shift attention to economic and foreign policy issues.
However, the immediate impact of the vote is clear: a prime minister who entered the referendum from a position of strength now faces a more uncertain political reality, facing an opposition that now believes it can defeat her. /Adapted from Politico /
Lini një Përgjigje