NEWS
Italy Votes on Whether to Change its Constitution
In her push for a “yes” vote in this weekend’s constitutional referendum, Italy’s prime minister has been reaching for new audiences.
On Thursday, Giorgia Meloni sat at the mic between a popular rapper and a personal trainer-turned-podcaster to urge Italians to vote for a judicial system she promised would be “more just” for all.
Opposition parties have been busy too, styling the “historic” reform proposed by the right-wing government as a threat to democracy, and turning it into a protest vote against Meloni’s rule.
In power for three-and-a-half years, close to a record in a land of shaky coalitions, Meloni prides herself on bringing stability to Italy.
But as this referendum has become increasingly personalised, she could be facing her first significant defeat.“She wants to win. If she loses, there will be an impact and she understands that,” political scientist Roberto D’Alimonte of Luiss University explains.
“She needs to mobilise her voters to have a better chance to win this race. But it’s going to be touch and go.”
That’s why the prime minister joined rapper Fedez and Marra on their podcast, Pulp.
Swapping her usual one-tone trouser suit for a woolly jumper with sparkles, Meloni fielded questions for an hour from the tattoo-covered rapper and his popular co-host.
The engagement was meant to encourage younger voters to the polls.
There is no minimum turnout for this kind of referendum – the camp with the most ballots over two days of voting wins. The “no” campaign already has the backing of trade unions.
Recent polls suggested that low participation would favour those against the reform.
So on air Meloni set out her case for “yes” with trademark gusto.
She said changes to how Italy’s judges and prosecutors work would make the system “more meritocratic, more responsible, more efficient”.
She also argued her opponents were only turning all this into a referendum on her rule because they couldn’t fault the reform itself.
In any case, Meloni made clear, she wouldn’t be stepping down.
“If you vote ‘no’ today just to send Meloni home, you’ll find yourself keeping both Meloni and a justice system that doesn’t work,” the prime minister said.
“That doesn’t seem like a good deal to me.”
The system is certainly chronically overloaded, with some of the longest-running trials in the EU.
But the reform won’t address that.
The referendum looks at separating the career paths of judges and prosecutors, as well as creating distinct bodies to govern them. It also proposes a new disciplinary court for both.
The potential impact depends entirely on who you ask: many Italians struggle to understand this referendum at all.
The proposal is a project of the late Silvio Berlusconi’s party, Forza Italia, part of the current coalition.
Italy’s oligarch prime minister of many years was forever in and out of court and railed against the judiciary as a supposed “communist” block on his power.
Meloni herself has also clashed publicly with the courts, claiming that “powerful factions” routinely derail her signature policies, especially on migration.
In Milan recently she claimed – with no evidence – that rejecting the referendum would mean “even more… immigrants, rapists, paedophiles, drug dealers being freed and putting your security at risk.”
Such rhetoric is one reason why opposition parties are so wary of this reform.
They fear Meloni’s real aim is to subjugate the judiciary to her political control.
She and her team deny that.
But at a time of global uncertainty and rising prices caused by an unpopular US war, they also know voters may use the referendum to vent their frustration.
“The geopolitical situation is very tough, of course. People are scared. I completely feel that. But we need to stay focused on the purpose of the referendum,” Andrea di Giuseppe, a member of Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia party, argues.
He suggested that an assessment of Meloni’s own record could wait for the general election next year.
“If you are not happy about this government, then in 2027 [you can] just kick it off the bus, change to another government. Now, the matter of the referendum is what counts.”
There are some, even on the left wing of politics, who support this reform and see the close ties between judges and prosecutors as too cosy.
“It’s like, I help you for this case, so you help me. It’s like a little parliament where they all act together. It’s not normal,” says Alessandro Sterpa, a constitutional law professor at Tuscia University.
Not usually a Meloni supporter, he points to widespread complaints in the past about the influence of political factions, the so-called “correnti”, within the judiciary.
He also sees nothing in the proposed reform that would increase the degree of government control.
On the other hand, this would be the first time a hard right government has changed Italy’s constitution, written in the 1940s after the defeat of fascism.
“For a long time, the left wing wrote books in the university that only the left can defend the constitution. But we cannot say these kinds of things now,” Sterpa argues.
“My grandparents fought against fascism, with arms. Now I am for the reform because it’s useful for the country.”
The final rally of the “no” campaign was on Rome’s majestic Piazza del Popolo, where some spelled out “Vote No” in white tape on the cobblestones.
An inflatable unicorn with rainbow-coloured tail wandered through the crowd with a sign reading “Leave the Constitution in Peace” round its neck.
From the stage came passionate calls to “defend democracy”.
“The constitution gave us the guarantee of this balance of powers after fascism. We needed that not to fall again in that kind of state,” argues Andrea Malpassi from the CGIL trade union, firmly for the “no” vote.
He’s deeply wary of any constitutional tinkering by a prime minister who began her own political life as an admirer of Mussolini, the dictator.
“In the last few years we have had a lot of inquiries into what… ministers of this government did,” Malpassi says.
“We don’t want that not to be possible in the future.”
If Meloni wins this vote she has grand political ambitions, including increasing the powers of her own office in a future referendum.
But this test comes at a difficult time.
Much has been made in the past of her close friendship with Donald Trump, but his war on Iran is deeply unpopular here.
“Italians don’t like to get involved in these American wars, and the rise in gas prices damages the popularity of the government. The context is very negative for Meloni at this point,” Prof D’Alimonte agrees.
She would survive a “no” vote. But the much-vaunted stability she has brought to Italy would be shaken at a particularly vulnerable time.
“She will not resign,” the professor said. “But she will be politically weakened, there is no question about that.”
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
Stakeholders from Enugu North Senatorial District on Sunday paid a thank-you visit to Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, expressing deep appreciation for what they described as unprecedented development strides across the state and inclusive leadership in the zone.
Speaking on behalf of the zone, the traditional ruler of Edem Ani and Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty, Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, and the former President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, commended the governor for facilitating the appointment of Professor Simon Ortuanya as the first indigenous Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, describing it as a historic milestone for the district.
They also thanked him for honouring the late Senator Okey Ezea with a befitting state burial despite his opposition party affiliation, noting that the gesture underscored the governor’s statesmanship and commitment to unity.
They stressed that their visit was driven by verifiable results rather than sentiment, noting that “Our solidarity is anchored not on empty rhetorics, but on visible, tangible achievements and evidence that cannot be denied.”
The stakeholders further highlighted the upgrade of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), which now has a teaching hospital, alongside the appointment of 70 professors, as a major boost to medical education and healthcare delivery in the zone.
They listed other key interventions to include the construction of 102 Smart Green Schools and 102 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres in Enugu North, figures they noted surpassed those in other senatorial zones, as well as the establishment of modern transport infrastructure such as interchange terminals in Nsukka and the deployment of CNG buses to ease commuting.
The group also cited ongoing road infrastructure projects, including the dualisation of the Opi – Ugwuogo Nike – Abakpa Road and the Owo – Ubahu – Amankanu – Umualor – Ikem- Obollo Afor dual carriageway, which they said were opening up economic corridors and strengthening regional connectivity.
They equally acknowledged the near completion of the Ama – Akama Oghe – Olo – Iwollo – Umulokpa road linking Uzo-Uwani to other parts of the state, describing it as a critical integration route.
Beyond infrastructure, the stakeholders commended the governor for facilitating federal appointments for sons of Nsukka, as well as revitalising moribund state assets such as Nigergas, United Palm Products Limited (UPPL), Sunrise Flour Mills, and Hotel Presidential, Enugu, among others.
They also referenced flagship projects such as the International Conference Centre (ICC), the 5-star ICC Hotel, the 300-bed Enugu International Hospital, and the New Enugu Smart City, noting that over 3,000 projects had been executed or were ongoing across the state.
The stakeholders declared their full support for the governor’s re-election bid, insisting that no previous administration had delivered as much for the state.
“In just two years, governance in Enugu has shifted from promises to measurable results, with Nsukka Zone standing as one of the greatest beneficiaries”, they stated.
Responding, Governor Mbah thanked the stakeholders for the visit and reiterated his administration’s commitment to equity and non-discriminatory governance.
He further explained that the higher number of projects in Enugu North Zone was based on objective parameters such as the number of wards, noting that the zone has 102 wards compared to Enugu West’s 81 and Enugu East’s 77.
The governor assured the people of the zone of continued investments in road infrastructure and other sectors, stressing that Enugu North occupies a strategic place in his development agenda.
“We do what difficulty demands. When we presented ourselves to serve you, we committed to these things, and we must keep to our promises,” he said, stressing that his administration was determined to meet the infrastructure needs of the people despite limited resources.
The governor explained that his vision was to eliminate unpaved roads across the state, describing it as unacceptable in the 21st century, and disclosed that after constructing about 350 roads in Enugu capital city, over 1,022 roads remained, which would all be paved.
“Next to Enugu city is Nsukka. We are going to conduct the enumeration of all the roads in Nsukka, and we will ensure that we have all the roads without exception. That is the right thing to do,” he added, noting that road projects were already ongoing in areas such as Ugwuachara, Lejja, and Akpakwume-Nze to Aku.
He further noted that ongoing urban renewal initiatives, though involving some displacement, were being mitigated through the construction of modern markets with adequate facilities for affected traders.
Highlight of the visit was the presentation of symbolic gifts to the governor on behalf of the zone by Igwe Asadu, who also announced that the zone would purchase the governor’s nomination form at the forthcoming Enugu North Mega Rally scheduled for May 2, 2026.
The delegation, which was led by the Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai, had in attendance the former Deputy Governor, Ezenwata Okechukwu Itanyi; former senator for the zone, Senator Chukwuka Utazi; present and former members of the House of Representatives from the zone; the Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ezenta Ezeani; and other serving and former state lawmakers, State Executive Council members, Council Chairmen, former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dan Shere; senior government officials; traditional rulers; and other prominent stakeholders from the zone.
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
The Enugu State Police operatives attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Sub-Unit of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), on April 11, 2026, successfully rescued a kidnapped male victim who had been lured online, abducted, and compelled to pay a ransom of five hundred thousand naira (₦500,000.
00).In a statement sent by the Police public relations officer Enugu State command headquarters Daniel Ndukwe said that during the operation, a 27-year-old male suspect, Aniagboso Ugochukwu, identified as a member of the criminal syndicate, was arrested.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the same syndicate had, on April 1, 2026, lured and kidnapped another male victim, from whom they extorted a ransom of one hundred thousand naira (₦100,000.
00) before releasing him.Furthermore investigations indicate that the suspect and his accomplices on the run, employ deceptive tactics on social media platforms by advertising fictitious job vacancies. Unsuspecting victims who indicate interest are directed to a meeting point at Eke Obinagu, Emene, Enugu. They are subsequently transported to a secluded location in Akpuoga Nike, Enugu, where they are held captive and threatened with crude weapons, including iron objects and wooden planks, while ransom is demanded from their families.
The suspect confessed to the crime. He is currently in police custody and assisting ongoing investigations aimed at apprehending his fleeing accomplices, recovering the ransoms paid, and dismantling the criminal network.
The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, Mamman Bitrus Giwa has urged members of the public to exercise due caution when engaging with online job offers and to verify the authenticity of such opportunities before taking further steps.
He also encouraged citizens to promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or contact the Command through the following emergency lines: 08032003702, 08086671202, 112, 09134666668, or 09134448093.
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa on 27th April 2026, visited the Police Detective College Enugu, to inspect facilities designated for the conduct of the written examination for successful applicants in the ongoing recruitment of 50,000 Police Constables into the Nigeria Police Force.
In a statement sent by the Police public relations officer Enugu State command headquarters Daniel Ndukwe, said that the visit was aimed at ensuring that all necessary arrangements are in place ahead of the examination, scheduled to commence on Tuesday, 28th April, and conclude on Thursday 30th April 2026 at the Police Detective College, Enugu.
It would be recalled that the physical and credentials screening stage of the recruitment process recently concluded, paving the way for the current written examination stage.
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