Italy is preparing for a significant referendum focused on judicial reforms championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The proposed reforms aim to amend the Italian constitution to delineate the roles of judges and prosecutors, as well as reform the oversight mechanisms pertaining to them. Meloni's government argues that these changes are essential for ensuring impartiality and improving the efficiency of Italy's struggling justice system. In a recent video, Meloni described the reforms as a means to create a 'more modern, merit-based, autonomous, accountable, and, crucially, politically unencumbered' judiciary.

However, these proposed changes have sparked considerable criticism. Detractors have accused Meloni's administration of attempting to consolidate political power rather than addressing the systemic issues facing the judicial system, such as lengthy trial durations and overcrowded prisons. The leader of the center-left Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, has voiced strong opposition to the reforms, labeling them as poorly conceived and detrimental to judicial independence. Opinion polls suggest a tight contest between supporters and opponents of the referendum, indicating that a decisive 'No' vote could represent a significant setback for Meloni's government ahead of the forthcoming parliamentary elections next year.