Direct Democracy in Italy

In Italy, as in most European countries, a parliamentary democracy prevails, meaning that the nation exercises and expresses its sovereign rights through its representatives in parliament. However, since the early 1970s, Italian politics has also implemented instruments of direct democracy (democrazia diretta). In some particularly sensitive areas of public life, Italian citizens can participate directly in decision-making. Specifically, there are three types of referendums: abrogative, confirmatory, and local.

Italian Referendums

The most popular form of referendum in Italy is the abrogative referendum (referendum abrogativo), which repeals existing legislation. This direct-democratic instrument can be compared to the popular veto in Switzerland, also known as a facultative (optional) referendum.

Through an abrogative referendum, the electorate can partially or fully annul an existing law or legal act. The intention of Italian constitutionalists was for this type of referendum to complement and supervise parliamentary legislative processes, acting as a safeguard over legislative authority.

Of course, not all laws can be subject to this type of referendum. Exceptions include tax laws, budget laws, amnesties, and ratification of international treaties.

How Does an Abrogative Referendum Happen?

There are two main ways to initiate a referendum:

1. Citizen initiative: 500,000 eligible voters can request a referendum.

2. Regional council initiative: Five regional councils may propose a referendum, each requiring an absolute majority vote.

   
   

Next, the Court of Cassation verifies the referendum’s formal validity, including the required number of signatures. After that, the Constitutional Court conducts a substantive review.

The purpose of this review is to ensure that the initiative:

• Does not concern excluded matters (taxes, budgets, amnesties, treaties),

• Is clearly formulated, addressing only one topic or law,

• Contains specific, concrete demands.

  
  

In short, only initiatives that are precisely and unambiguously formulated — in a clear “black or white” manner — are eligible for an abrogative referendum.

Referendum Timing and Requirements

According to Italian tradition, referendums are always held on Sundays, usually around April 15 and June 15.

To annul a law or part of it, the referendum must meet two conditions:

1. Majority of votes in favor

2. Minimum turnout of 50% of eligible voters

   
   

Here, Italian practice resembles that of Poland. Like in Poland, the referendum is threshold-based, and achieving 50% turnout is not easy — a challenge to democratic ideals. By contrast, in Switzerland, no turnout thresholds apply in referendums.