Referendums in Italy: Government Calls for Abstention Amid Protests
On June 8 and 9, Italy will witness five pivotal abrogative referendums focused on the potential total or partial elimination of regulations concerning nationality and labor rights. However, the Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, firmly opposes these proposed changes and has urged citizens to abstain from voting to prevent the validity of the consultations.
Meloni's declaration that she will indeed go to the polling stations but will not cast her ballot has sparked significant outrage among opposition parties. Critics argue that her promotion of abstention undermines democratic participation and could lead to the erosion of citizens' rights, particularly in matters such as abortion, which they claim reflects a broader trend of institutional violence in Meloni's Italy.
The Prime Minister elaborated on her approach on Monday, indicating her intention to show up at the polls for identification purposes but to subsequently reject the ballots. This strategy, known as active abstentionism, allows her to visibly acknowledge the existence of the referendums while making it clear she intends to invalidate the voting process. This maneuver reflects greater political and symbolic weight than simply not appearing at all.
Meloni's call for abstention aligns with the sentiments expressed by her political allies. Ignazio La Russa, the President of the Senate and a member of Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, has publicly advocated for citizens to stay home during the voting period. Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani from Forza Italia has also championed the idea of political abstentionism.
Elly Schlein, leader of the opposition party, the Democratic Party (PD), sharply criticized Meloni's stance, suggesting that her decision to not vote signifies a retreat from accountability. "You can be for or against the referendum, but the Prime Minister has decided to hide. She's someone who has always claimed pride in her ideas, but in this case, she has hidden away. Choosing to flee implies that going to the polls without casting a vote is essentially not voting at all," Schlein asserted.
The referendums, aimed at modifying key aspects of citizenship and labor rights, require a turnout of at least 50% of eligible voters for their results to be recognized as valid. These votes, initiated by Deputy Riccardo Magi of the progressive party Europa and backed by various political factions, unions, and organizations, managed to gather over 637,000 signatures to prompt the consultations.
Among the proposed changes, one notable referendum seeks to diminish the residency requirement for Italian citizenship from ten years to five, allowing naturalized citizens to pass on citizenship to their minor children. This reform could potentially impact 23 million individuals in Italy.
Another significant issue addressed in these referendums is the rule concerning the reinstatement of workers improperly dismissed from their jobs in larger companies. Supported by the country's largest union, CGIL, one of the referendums aims to repeal a regulation that negates the reinstatement requirement for employees hired after March 7, 2015.
Additionally, the referendums seek to lift the cap on compensation for unjustly dismissed workers in smaller businesses, revise regulations regarding fixed-term contracts, and enhance employer accountability in cases of workplace accidents and occupational diseases.
As the dates for the referendums approach, the tension between the government and opposition continues to escalate, raising critical questions about the future of workers' rights and citizenship laws in Italy.
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