Italian referendums on citizenship, labour law fail over low turnout
dpa
Rome
A series of referendums on immigration and labour law have failed in Italy after turnout fell far short of the required 50% of the eligible population after two days of voting, in a win for right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Preliminary figures from the Interior Ministry showed that only 29% of voters had cast a ballot by the time polling station closed at 3pm (1300 GMT) on Monday.
The referendums focused heavily on labour law, with votes on better protection against dismissal, higher severance payments, the abolition of fixed-term contracts and liability in the event of accidents at work. The fifth issue involved deciding whether people from countries outside the EU could be granted citizenship after five years. Currently, this takes at least 10 years.
The final results will only be published after the end of the count. According to preliminary figures, there were clear majorities in favour of the measures, but they will not pass due to the low turnout.
The failure was widely expected after only 22% of voters participated in the election on Sunday, when voting was open until 11pm.
Of the 78 referendums held in Italy since the end of World War II, many have failed due to low turnout. The latest vote was initiated by trade unions and the left-wing opposition.
The right-wing coalition government under Prime Minister Meloni advised its supporters not to participate. Meloni herself went to her polling station but did not cast her vote.
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