Referendum in Italy: the debate on quorum and voter turnout

In a climate of growing political tension, the debate on the referendums scheduled for June 8 and 9 is becoming increasingly heated. The secretary of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, has launched a direct appeal to the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, asking for clarity on her position regarding the referendums. "I expect to know what she will do," said Schlein, underlining the importance of participation in the vote.

The question of the quorum becomes crucial, with the center-right calling on voters to abstain, while the opposition mobilizes to encourage voter turnout.

The role of the media and information

Another key aspect of the discussion is the role of the media in informing the public about the referendum issues. The president of the Supervisory Commission, Barbara Floridia, denounced a “conspiracy of silence” by some media outlets, which seem to minimize the importance of the questions. The promoters of the referendums, including the Cgil, complain about the low visibility of the issues at stake, particularly those related to work and citizenship. Rai, for its part, defended its coverage, stating that the visibility of the referendum issues is growing.

The referendum questions and their implications

The referendums in question mainly concern the abolition of the Jobs Act and the modification of the citizenship rules. While the secretary of the CGIL, Maurizio Landini, speaks of a “conspiracy of silence”, the secretary of Più Europa, Riccardo Magi, criticizes the government for the regulatory confusion regarding citizenship. The proposal to reduce the period necessary to obtain Italian citizenship to five years is seen as a necessary step to guarantee rights to those who live and work in the country. However, the recent approval of a decree that restricts access to citizenship for descendants of Italians has raised concerns among supporters of a more inclusive reform.

Expectations for the future

Despite the difficulties, Schlein expressed optimism about the participation of Italians in the referendums. “I hope that Italy will surprise us with a wave of participation,” he said, highlighting the importance of this opportunity to build a better future. However, within his own party, there are divisions over the questions, with the reformist area opposing the anti-jobs act ones. Schlein reiterated the need to maintain a clear line, while welcoming internal debate.