• Italian voters reject a judicial reform backed by PM Giorgia Meloni.
• The "No" camp secured approximately 54% of the vote against 46% for the "Yes" campaign.
• Voter turnout was unexpectedly high at nearly 59% during the two-day ballot.
• The defeat exposes divisions within Meloni's right-wing coalition.
• Meloni vows to continue her mandate despite the setback.

Italian voters have rejected a judicial reform proposed by conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, marking a significant setback for her government one year before national elections. The opposition-backed "No" camp garnered around 54% of the vote compared to 46% for the government’s "Yes" campaign, according to almost final data from the Interior Ministry. This referendum posed a direct challenge to Meloni's leadership, casting doubt on the stability of her right-wing coalition, according to Reuters, Los Angeles Times, Le Monde, and South China Morning Post.

The two-day ballot recorded a surprisingly high turnout, reaching nearly 59%, which is significantly above expectations. This level of engagement reflects a polarizing campaign that galvanized the center-left opposition and exposed fractures within Meloni's coalition, which could have implications for her future governance, as noted by multiple sources including Reuters, Los Angeles Times, Le Monde, and South China Morning Post.

In a statement following the referendum, Meloni acknowledged the defeat but expressed her intent to continue her mandate, emphasizing, "We respect this decision." The proposed reform aimed at restructuring Italy's judiciary faced criticism for potentially consolidating excessive power within the executive branch and raising concerns about the independence of the judiciary, according to Reuters, Los Angeles Times, Le Monde, and South China Morning Post.