Italy’s citizenship referendum, which aimed to grant faster citizenship to certain immigrants and strengthen labor rights, has been declared void due to low voter turnout. The referendum was sparked by concerns over immigration and the country’s demographic crisis, with many Italians struggling to get full citizenship rights.
The government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged citizens to boycott the process, but campaigners for change argued that faster naturalization would help second-generation immigrants who have been living in Italy for years without receiving full citizenship. Economists also saw this as a solution to address Italy’s aging society and low birthrate.
Turnout was extremely low, with only 22.7% of eligible voters casting ballots over two days. The referendum required at least 50% participation by eligible voters to be valid, but the turnout fell short. Right-wing parties, including Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, were vocal in their opposition to the changes and urged citizens not to participate.
The low voter turnout has sparked outrage from civil rights activists and opposition parties, who see it as a betrayal of democratic principles. The referendum was seen as an important test of democracy, but its failure will likely leave many wondering about the future of Italy’s democratic system.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/06/09/g-s1-71526