Referendum abstention call ‘undemocratic’, says union

Italy’s largest union confederation, the five million-member CGIL, has attacked Italian politicians on the right and centre right who have called on voters not to participate in this month’s referendum on employment and citizenship rights.

Under the slogan “voting is freedom”, CGIL has stated that “in a moment of grave crisis for democracy” it is “very dangerous” that government ministers are calling on voters to stay at home.

The referendum, taking place on 8 and 9 June, includes four propositions from CGIL to strengthen employment rights and a fifth on citizenship supported by a human rights group. CGIL has called for reinstatement rights for unfair dismissal, removal of the six-month compensation limit, transparency in temporary contracts, and legal responsibility for main contractors over subcontractor safety.

The fifth proposition calls for restoring the right of non-EU residents to apply for citizenship after five years instead of ten.

Under Italy’s constitution, a referendum is valid only if more than 50% of eligible voters participate. Government figures including deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini have urged abstention, hoping to keep turnout below that threshold.

CGIL collected five million signatures to trigger the vote—ten times the legal requirement—and hopes for 25 million voters to turn out. As general secretary Maurizio Landini stated, the referendum “offers citizens to vote for their own interests, to obtain concrete rights and to cancel inadequate laws.”