Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni conceded defeat in a national referendum to overhaul Italy's judicial system, with 54.1% of Italians voting 'No' and 45.9% voting 'Yes.'
The result marks Meloni's biggest setback since rising to power in late 2022 and risks weakening her grip on power ahead of a general election.
Meloni said the loss was a 'regret for a missed opportunity to modernize Italy,' but the result has sparked concerns over her reelection prospects in 2027 and her broader constitutional reform ambitions.
The referendum aimed to restructure how Italy trains and oversees judges and prosecutors, but opponents argued the overhaul would weaken judicial independence and subject the courts to more government control.
The loss threatens to expose tensions within the governing coalition and comes at a time when energy costs are spiraling and living standards are stagnating.
