“Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's proposal to reform Italy's judiciary is set to fail at the ballot box, according to projections published on Monday evening.”

“The EU country is set for parliamentary elections next year.”

“Only a small minority of Italian prosecutors switch careers to become judges, and vice versa.”

“Meloni's Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said the reform would fix the 'para-Mafia mechanism' operating among judges.”

“It also foresaw a new 15-member disciplinary body.”

“Some 54% of voters rejected the initiative, with 46% backing the legal changes championed by Meloni's right-wing government.”

“Some critics also point out that the proposal would not fix the arguably most severe issue plaguing the country's courts — the glacially slow pace of its trials, which in turn causes backlogs and prison overcrowding.”

“Another pillar of the proposal was splitting the existing Superior Council of the Judiciary into two separate oversight bodies, where members would be drawn by lots instead of voted in by their peers and lawmakers.”

“Meloni conceded defeat in an online post, lamenting the outcome as 'a lost chance to modernize Italy' while also pledging to respect the decision.”