CIVICUS discusses the results of a recent Italian referendum on citizenship and workers’ rights with Andrea Oleandri, Co-Executive Director of the Italian Coalition for Freedom and Civil Rights (CILD), a civil society network working to promote and protect civil liberties.

In June, Italian citizens, both in Italy and abroad, voted on five referendums to repeal citizenship and labour laws. The proposed changes included repealing parts of the Jobs Act, a set of labour laws introduced between 2014 and 2015, with the aim of strengthening worker protections, as well as reducing the legal residence period required for non-European Union (EU) citizens to apply for Italian citizenship from 10 to five years. Despite active promotion by civil society, the referendum failed to reach the required turnout.

How do repeal referendums work in Italy?

Repeal referendums are regulated by Article 75 of the Constitution. To propose repealing all or part of an existing law, it is necessary to collect at least 500,000 signatures from eligible voters, or support from five regional councils. The Constitutional Court then assesses the referendum’s admissibility. For the referendum results to be binding, over half of eligible voters must participate. If this threshold is not met, the referendum has no effect. However, some laws, such as those on budgets and taxes, amnesties and pardons, international treaties and constitutional provisions, are excluded from this process.

Given persistently low voter turnout, some people have proposed reforms such as abolishing the threshold or requiring a turnout at least equivalent to that in the latest general election. However, these ideas haven’t gained traction.

How did civil society and political parties engage with the recent referendums?

Proponents of the labour referendums argued that repealing the laws would restore worker protections and reduce precarious employment by promoting stable contracts. One proposal aimed to protect workers from arbitrary dismissal and ensure all parties, including subcontractors, are protected in cases of workplace accidents.

Opponents contended that repealing the current rules would discourage hiring, reduce labour market flexibility and limit companies’ ability to use subcontractors, potentially impacting on competitiveness.

On citizenship, supporters believed reducing the residence requirement would facilitate the integration of foreigners living permanently in Italy. Critics argued that a shorter period would not ensure effective integration.

How do you interpret the results?

Unfortunately, turnout was barely above 30 per cent, so the required threshold wasn’t met and the status quo remains unchanged. Most of the government and other forces that called for abstention interpret this result as a desire to maintain current policies. Conversely, those who promoted the referendum point out that more people turned out to vote than voted in the last election for the parties currently in government, which were chosen by under 30 per cent of people eligible to vote. The reality is that low voter turnout is becoming a structural problem in Italy, both in referendums and general elections.

Had the yes vote prevailed, it would have signalled public support for stronger worker protections and a more inclusive citizenship system. This could have shifted political focus towards social reforms and greater inclusion for long-term foreign residents. Conversely, a no victory would have reaffirmed current priorities: business flexibility, incentives for casual hiring and a cautious approach to migration policy.

What does the low turnout reveal about the state of Italian democracy?

Although civic engagement hasn’t waned, Italy faces a troubling trend of voter abstention, reflecting widespread distrust in institutions and doubts about people’s ability to influence policy. This apathy must be addressed by encouraging inclusive debate, unlike the approach taken by the current government and some political leaders, who have discouraged participation.

Discouraging engagement is anti-democratic and signals a shrinking civic space, as noted by international reports, including the CIVICUS Monitor. Recent years have seen setbacks in civil rights, including freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly. In this context, calling and participating in referendums is not just about the specific issues at stake, but about reaffirming citizens’ right to be protagonists in their country’s democratic life and take action to counter the erosion of fundamental rights. This is the direction we must work in.

Italy is currently on the CIVICUS Monitor Watch List, which tracks countries currently experiencing a serious decline in respect for civic space.