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ARCHIVE - Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Palazzo Chigi, the seat of the Italian government in Rome. Photo: Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse/AP/dpa
Keystone
In Italy, more than 51 million eligible voters are being called to vote in a referendum on various laws at Whitsun. The main issues are labor law: better protection against dismissal, higher severance pay, the termination of employment contracts and liability for accidents at work. The fifth issue will decide whether people from countries outside the EU can be naturalized after five years in future. Until now, this has taken at least ten years.
The polling stations have been open since 7.00 am. The results are expected soon after the polls close at 3 p.m. on Monday. However, the results of such a vote are only binding if at least half of all eligible voters take part in the referendum. Of the 78 referendums held in Italy to date, many have already failed due to a lack of participation.
The referendum was initiated by the trade unions and the left-wing opposition. The right-wing coalition in Rome under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is advising its supporters not to take part. The leader of the largest governing party, Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy), has been at the head of an alliance of three right-wing and conservative parties since the fall of 2022.
08.06.2025, 07:23
