Voters in Italy decide on changes to the judiciary in a referendum that could impact the popularity of right-wing leader Giorgia Meloni ahead of future elections.
Italians began voting on Sunday in a two-day referendum on judicial reforms proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which aim to separate the roles of judges and prosecutors and reform their oversight body.
Meloni, leader of Italy's right-wing government, argues that the reforms will make the judiciary more modern, meritocratic, autonomous, and free from political constraints, addressing issues in Italy's justice system.
Reforms and Their Details
The proposed changes include dividing the Superior Council of the Judiciary into two separate councils, one for judges and one for prosecutors, and establishing a 15-member disciplinary court.
Members of this court would be selected by lot, with three chosen by Italy's president and three from a list of experienced lawyers approved by parliament, moving away from peer elections.
Critics, including Elly Schlein of the centre-left Democratic Party, condemn the reforms as a political power grab that could weaken judicial independence and fail to tackle problems like lengthy trials and prison overcrowding.
Opinion polls show the "yes" and "no" camps are closely matched, with a potential "no" vote representing a significant challenge for Meloni, who has led a stable coalition since October 2022.
Voting concludes at 3pm local time on Monday, with preliminary results expected later that day, amid concerns that the outcome could influence Italy's political landscape before upcoming elections.
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