Italy's Meloni seen narrowly losing justice referendum, exit polls say

ROME, March 23 - Exit polls on Monday suggested Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had narrowly lost a referendum on her flagship reform of the judicial system, dealing a potential blow to the ruling coalition ahead of next year's general election. Read more at straitstimes.com.

ROME, March 23 - Exit polls on Monday suggested Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had narrowly lost a referendum on her flagship reform of the judicial system, dealing a potential blow to the ruling coalition ahead of next year's general election.

The opposition-backed "No" camp secured between 49% and 53% of the vote, compared to 47% to 51% for the government's "Yes" campaign, according to surveys by Opinio for state broadcaster RAI and SWG for La7 TV channel.

Youtrend pollsters put "No" on 51.5% against 48.5% for "Yes".

Turnout was close to 60% -- much higher than expected following an ill-tempered campaign that revealed a deep, mutual animosity between the right-wing coalition and Italy's judiciary, that will leave lasting scars.

If the exit polls are right, defeat might mark a turning point for Meloni, stripping her of the aura of being a winner in the eyes of the Italian electorate after four years of victories in local and national polls.

By contrast, the result may re-energize the fragmented centre-left, giving the two largest opposition parties, the Democratic Party and 5-Star Movement, the impetus to forge a broad alliance to take on Meloni and her allies.