Italian community in Belgium rejects Meloni’s judicial reform

Italians living abroad were given the opportunity to vote on the judicial reform proposed by prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, and Italian Belgians decisively rejected it. According to the final results, 61.35 per cent voted ‘no’, higher than the national average.

Out of 254,590 eligible voters in Belgium, 43,506 took part, giving a turnout of just over 17 per cent. Of those, 24,272 voted against the constitutional reform, while 15,288 supported it. The remainder were invalid, blank, or contested ballots.

Judicial reform

The referendum concerned a proposed overhaul of Italy’s judicial system that would have amended the constitution. Key elements included limiting pre-trial detention, accelerating trial timelines and restructuring the management of the judiciary to reduce delays.

Supporters argued the reform would make courts more efficient, while critics warned it could undermine judicial independence and concentrate power in the hands of the government.

The vote was widely regarded as a major test for Meloni, whose right-wing coalition Fratelli d’Italia, Lega and Forza Italia has governed Italy since October 2022. If passed, the reform would have been one of the most significant constitutional changes in recent Italian history, altering the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches and reshaping long-standing legal safeguards.

Italian Belgians’ rejection reflects broader political trends in the diaspora. In the 2022 parliamentary elections, Italian Belgians favoured the opposition centre-left Partito Democratico, which opposed the reform, giving 46.32 per cent of the Senate vote and 34.43 per cent in the Chamber of Deputies. In comparison, the ruling coalition secured just under 24 per cent in both houses.

The power of expat voters

Italy allows its citizens living abroad to vote in referenda and parliamentary elections through dedicated international constituencies. These votes are counted separately and can influence the outcome, particularly in closely contested issues. The overseas electorate often reflects different political priorities from residents in Italy, sometimes giving more support to opposition parties, as seen in this referendum.

For Meloni, the high ‘no’ vote among Italians abroad was a symbolic blow, highlighting the government’s limited appeal outside its domestic strongholds. While it does not automatically block domestic policy, the overseas result can affect political credibility and international perception.

Across Italy and the global diaspora, 53.23 per cent of voters opposed the reform, delivering a clear setback to Meloni. Despite the defeat, she has firmly ruled out resigning, maintaining that her government remains stable and committed to its agenda.

^{A person works in a polling station during the counting of the ballot boxes of the Constitutional referendum on Justice reform, on March 23, 2026. © PHOTO FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP}