politics
March 25, 2026
Italy's tourism minister resigns amid turmoil from referendum failure
Giorgia Meloni made public request for Daniela Santanchè to quit in effort to restore credibility after voters rejected judicial reform
TL;DR
- Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè resigned after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly requested her departure.
- The resignation follows a significant defeat in a referendum on judicial reforms, which marked the first major political setback for Meloni's government.
- Two justice ministry officials, Andrea Delmastro and Giusi Bartolozzi, also resigned in the aftermath of the referendum.
- Italians rejected constitutional amendments that would have altered the recruitment and governance of judges and prosecutors.
- Meloni's government stated the reforms were essential for impartiality, while opponents argued they would weaken judicial independence.
- Analysts suggest Meloni's public call for Santanchè's resignation indicates newfound weakness, despite her previous strong support.
- The referendum's outcome and high turnout have energized the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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