Referendum, No victory with 54%. Meloni: we respect the Italians' decision. Schlein: there is an alternative majority, available for primaries

Defeated at home, the Yes vote in the Referendum on Justice prevails among Italians abroad. Out of a total of 2,207 communications received from other countries, the Yes vote reached 56.34%, against 43.66% of the No votes. In particular, the No vote won only in Europe: 55.24% to 43.76%. While it loses in North and Central America (42.36% to 57.64% Yes) and even more sharply in South America (27.14% to 72.86); while in the Africa, Asia, Oceania and Antarctica Breakdown, the Yes vote beats the No vote 53.02% to 46.98%.

"The Italians have decided. And we respect this decision. We will go ahead, as we have always done, with responsibility, determination and respect for the Italian people and for Italia." This was the premier Giorgia Meloni posting a video message on social media.

"Clearly, regret remains," he added, speaking in the open, "for a lost opportunity to modernise Italia, but this does not change our commitment to continue working for the good of the nation and to honour the mandate entrusted to us with seriousness and determination. We will go ahead as we have always done, with responsibility, with determination and above all with respect for Italia and its people'.

"I respectfully note the decision of the sovereign people. Our intention was to definitively implement the project conceived by Giuliano Vassalli with the accusatory process and consecrated by Article 111 of the Constitution that defines the judge as third and impartial. We put all our energy into explaining, in accessible terms, the complexity of this reform. It is not our intention to attribute political significance to this vote or not. We thank the part of the electorate that has given us confidence and in any case we are comforted by the high turnout in the vote, which confirms the solidity of our democracy". Thus the Minister of Justice,Carlo Nordio.

"The sovereign people have spoken, and we bow to their will. It has expressed itself with a very high degree of participation and this, beyond the result, is a great proof of democracy. We did everything we could to make people understand the importance of a reform that would have made justice fairer and Italia freer. However, the Italians were of a different opinion and we take note of this with the utmost respect'. Thus Forza Italia secretary Antonio Tajani on the referendum vote on justice.

Under-secretary to the presidency Giovanbattista Fazzolari raises the alarm: "The result of this referendum is to legitimise an action by the judiciary on a series of issues that are diriment for Italians today: we see that government action is often slowed down on the immigration and security front by decisions that the judiciary does not agree with and that could be reinforced in the future. Italians ask this government, but they would ask any government, for more control of illegal immigration and to be more incisive in terms of security. So far on these two topics we have seen that many of the regulations implemented are then weakened by decisions taken by the judiciary: with the outcome of the referendum,' Fazzolari concludes, 'the concern is that this action could become even more invasive

"This is a clear political message to Meloni and the government, who must now reflect, they must listen to the country and the real priorities. It is also a message for us. The country is asking for an alternative and we have the responsibility to organise it. There is already an alternative majority in government. This vote gives us a great responsibility. We will work with the forces of the progressive coalition to build the alternative,' said PD secretary Elly Schlein at a press conference at the Nazareno. The progressive leaders, Schlein continued, "I hope to see them in the square and celebrate together. We have always said that we will find the modalities for building the programme together. We will discuss everything, modalities and timing. I have always said that in the event of a primary I would be absolutely available. We continue to be stubbornly united

'We did it! Long live the Constitution!" writes the President of the 5 Star Movement, Giuseppe Conte, on social media. And then the news: "We open ourselves to the prospect of primaries, which are truly open as an opportunity for citizens to contribute to a broad discussion to identify the most competitive candidate or candidate and the best interpreter of the programme."

"The surprise No has won. Today is a huge political fact, when the people speak the palace must listen. This is an important step for Meloni, who told us that she was blessed and kissed by consensus. They have chosen to do more than personalise. Today the message loud and clear is that there is a resounding defeat, before that of the reasons for the Yes vote, of the government and the arrogant way in which it wanted to make this reform'. Thus the president of Iv, Matteo Renzi, on Radio Leopolda.

"The victory of the No vote in the constitutional referendum is a clear warning to the political class: the Constitution cannot be changed by majority voting. If one intervenes on the Charter, it is done together, with the widest possible consensus, respecting the shared spirit that generated it, marked by common responsibility in the encounter that we believe is always possible." This is how the Acli national president, Emiliano Manfredonia, commented on the results of the constitutional referendum on justice.

A few minutes before the polls closed at 3 p.m. Cesare Parodi informed the Anm's executive committee of his resignation from his position as president of the National Association of Magistrates, which was siding with the no party. At the basis of his communication there would be personal reasons related to the health condition of a family member.