Decree-Law

Referendum on Justice, voting in two days

There had already been an attempt with an amendment to the manoeuvre

by Rome Editorial Staff

22 December 2025

CARLO NORDIO MINISTRO GIUSTIZIA CONSIGLIO EUROPEO GIUSTIZIA E AFFARI INTERNI

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

The manoeuvre attempt
Weapons to Ukraine not discussed
Ok to the enabling act on youth policies and universal civil service

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The Council of Ministers has reportedly approved the decree-law with 'urgent provisions for the elections and referendums in the year 2026', according to which voting on the referendum on the justice reform will take place on two days, Sunday and Monday.

The attempt with the manoeuvre

The decision to bring the proposal to the Council of Ministers had been announced by Luca Ciriani, Minister for Relations with Parliament, when the government had tried to include it among the corrective measures to the manoeuvre. After protests from the opposition, Ciriani announced that 'the amendment will be withdrawn, but there was no hidden design to go to the referendum earlier, it was simply the rule to allow voting on Monday as well' and in any case 'to avoid any different interpretation' 'the government will make a decree that will go to one of the next Council of Ministers'.

Weapons to Ukraine were not mentioned

There was no mention, however, of the bill that will be on the table at the 29 December cabinet meeting and that will extend the delivery of arms to Ukraine for next year. In the text, there will be no reference, as on other occasions, to the details of the weapons that will be supplied. "But there is - explains a parliamentary source in the League to Agi - agreement that there will be no long-range weapons".

Ok to the enabling act on youth policies and universal civil service

The go-ahead has arrived for the draft delegated law on youth policies and universal civil service, promoted by the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi. In particular, with regard to youth policies, it delegates the government to adopt within six months one or more legislative decrees concerning the simplification, reorganisation and coordination of youth policies in order to optimise the effectiveness of interventions, avoiding overlaps or duplications, in compliance with the current institutional competences and within the framework of the policies envisaged by the European Union, favouring the active participation of young people in the decision-making processes and in the political choices that concern them.

On the other hand, the delegation on universal civil service will simplify the administrative procedures related to the design and registration on the register of universal civil service organisations, strengthen the system for monitoring projects and the resources deployed, and recognise and valorise the skills acquired by volunteer workers.

Ports Reform, Porti d'Italia Spa is born

The Council of Ministers has finally approved 'without reservations' the draft law on reorganising port governance and relaunching investment in strategic maritime transport infrastructure of general interest. This is, the Italian Ministry of Economic Development stressed in a note, "a decisive step for the future of logistics and the Italian maritime economy". This marks the start of "a reform that has been awaited for years, which introduces a unitary vision, clear objectives, and defined responsibilities, laying the foundations for a modern, competitive port system that is fully integrated into the major routes of the Mediterranean and Europe. At the heart of the new structure is the establishment of Porti d'Italia Spa, a public company owned by the MEF and supervised by the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport, called upon to play a role of national director. The new company will be responsible for the management of large strategic infrastructure investments, extraordinary maintenance, the identification of works of general economic interest, and the unitary promotion of the Italian port system on international markets'.

In Cdm Mef appointments, Giorgetti confirms Barbieri Hermitte as dg

The Council of Ministers has resolved, on the proposal of Economy and Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, the conferment (renewal) of the post of director general of the Treasury to Riccardo Barbieri Hermitte, for the duration of three years, starting on 23 January 2026. This was announced in a press release issued by Palazzo Chigi at the end of the meeting, at which other appointments were also deliberated, with the start of the procedure for the confirmation of Alessandra dal Verme as director of the Agenzia del demanio (State Property Agency), the renewal for three years of Vincenzo Carbone as director of the Agenzia delle entrate (Revenue Agency) and that, again for three years, of Roberto Alesse as director of the Agenzia delle dogane e dei monopoli (Customs and Monopolies Agency).