PALERMO, Sicily (CN) - Far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suffered her first major defeat Monday as voters struck down her bid to overhaul the country's judiciary.

On Sunday and Monday, Italy held a contested constitutional referendum on whether to split the careers of judges and prosecutors and set up new chambers to oversee their work. Critics warned the changes were an attack on the judiciary's independence.

The overhaul was struck down by a large margin with about 54% of voters siding with the 'No' camp. Turnout was high with about 59% of voters casting ballots.

The plebiscite on such a complex topic morphed into a test of support for Meloni and her right-wing government and the loss signals trouble for her other ambitions, chief among them an argument that election laws need to be overhauled to foster more stable governments.

"The Italians have decided and we respect this decision," Meloni said on social media. "We will move forward, as we always have done, with responsibility, determination and respect towards the Italian people and Italy."

Meloni argued the changes were meant to restore balance to a judiciary that she argues is dominated by unaccountable left-wing factions. She also said the changes were needed to "modernize" Italy by bringing "more transparency" to a judiciary well-known for its system of self-governance.

Her opponents - including many judges and legal experts - warned the reforms would have given politicians too much control over the courts.

Critics also said the changes would have added costs and done little to address deeper problems such as case backlogs, staff shortages and slow court proceedings.

Elly Schlein, the leader of the opposition center-left Democratic Party, said the referendum sent a "clear political message to Meloni and the government."

"They must now reflect, listen to the country and its true priorities," Schlein said at a news conference. "The country is demanding an alternative, and we have the responsibility to organize it."

Despite the defeat, Meloni can hope for a quick recovery because she remains popular, with about 44% of Italians saying she is doing a good job. She is not required to call parliamentary elections until 2027.

The referendum was triggered after parliament approved the changes last year. A simple majority was required to pass the constitutional amendments, and there was no turnout threshold.

There were three key elements to the overhaul.

First, it would have separated the career paths of judges and public prosecutors, preventing them from switching roles.

Second, it would have divided the High Judicial Council - which oversees judicial appointments and discipline - into three chambers: one for judges, one for prosecutors and a third to handle disciplinary cases involving both.

Finally, the reforms would have changed how members of these chambers were appointed. Critics worried politicians would have seized more influence over judicial appointments under this part of the proposals.

The reforms represented the biggest overhaul of the judiciary since Italy's modern Constitution was written in the wake of World War II and the fall of fascism.

In seeking the referendum, Meloni was waging a battle that had been a central focus of her longtime ally, the late former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Berlusconi spent years battling magistrates' prosecutions into his business and personal dealings.

In Italy, there is general agreement that the justice system doesn't work as it should, but many experts said the reforms were too drastic and didn't tackle the real problems, such as agonizingly long proceedings.

This perspective was voiced by Nicola Gratteri, a prominent prosecutor known for taking on the 'ndrangheta of Calabria, Italy's most feared criminal organization.

Gratteri campaigned against the constitutional changes, warning they undermined the judiciary's independence.

"The 'No' victory in the referendum sends a strong and clear signal: civil society is alive, attentive, and ready to mobilize when fundamental principles are at stake," he said, as reported by Italian media. "It was a conscious choice, in defense of the Constitution and the balance of institutions."

But he added the justice system still "needs serious reforms" to reduce trial times and make courts more efficient.

Courthouse News reporter Cain Burdeau is based in the European Union.

Source: Courthouse News Service