The Meloni govt is worried about the referendum and is gonna do something about it

With the referendum on the judicial reform now just around the corner, scheduled for Sunday, March 22, and Monday, March 23, the latest polling data paints a political picture that should serve as a wake-up call for supporters of change. According to the latest Ipsos survey, if turnout hovers around 42% of eligible voters, the No vote would lead with 52.4% against 47.6% for Yes, with opposition support sharply increasing compared to previous weeks.

This trend, which sees the No vote gaining ground especially in a low-turnout scenario, has prompted key government figures to launch a strong and clear appeal to voters in favor of the reform: change is achieved not with words, but with actions and participation at the ballot box. As Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized in a radio interview, “Those who want career separation must spend those few minutes to go vote and deposit their Yes in the ballot box.”

Meloni strongly reiterated that the March vote is not against anyone, but a vote in favor of a concrete reform, aimed at ensuring greater clarity and accountability in the judicial system. The Prime Minister did not hesitate to describe this as a last opportunity to reform justice and reinforced the message: “Now or never,” highlighting the benefits of the reform and stressing that critics should provide technical arguments rather than slogans or political polemics.

On the political front, Senate Vice President Antonio Tajani called on all supporters to intensify mobilization in the final weeks of the campaign, underlining that the trend indicated by the survey is far from negligible for those hoping for a Yes result. The center-right, which has made judicial reform a banner of change, is therefore called upon to make an extra effort to recover ground in public support.

The reform under discussion proposes, among other things, the end of factions within the High Council of the Judiciary (Csm) through a lottery system, aiming to reduce political influence and promote the recognition of individual magistrates. This is one of the points the government is emphasizing most in its dialogue with voters, and it is no coincidence that figures such as Justice Minister Carlo Nordio and Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano are spreading the message across Italy.

However, the campaign for Yes is not immune to tensions. Prime Minister Meloni has repeatedly cited specific cases, such as decisions by certain judges that blocked the expulsion of illegal migrants, also referencing dramatic news events, to strongly illustrate the need to reform rules that currently seem too far removed from citizens’ expectations. This has sparked critical reactions from Democratic Party (PD) deputies, who accused the government of using sensitive topics for political purposes, adding a sharper edge to public debate.

Meanwhile, on the institutional side, the climate remains moderate and cautious: the Minister of Justice has sought to tone down rhetoric, expressing willingness to engage in dialogue even with Attorney General Aldo Policastro after the tensions of recent weeks. The reference to the “wise guidance of Sergio Mattarella” signals a desire not to overstep, while still firmly defending the reform in dealings with other institutions.

The Ipsos survey has not gone unnoticed within the center-right, and while it is true that the path toward a Yes vote has become steeper than it seemed just a few weeks ago, it is equally true that everything depends on turnout. Higher participation, analysts argue, could reverse the outcome: a widespread mobilization of pro-reform voters could indeed balance the percentages or even give a slight advantage to Yes.

Only a few weeks remain until the vote. It is a decisive moment: let us not allow the concerns raised by a survey to become an excuse for abstention. The judicial referendum is a profound choice about the future of our country and, above all, about the functioning of a fairer, more transparent judicial system that is closer to the needs of citizens. Going to the polls is not only a civic duty: it is the only way to clearly state which Italy we want tomorrow.

Klevis Gjoka