Meloni Purges Cabinet as Italy Rejects Landmark Judicial Reform

Following a resounding referendum rout, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni accepts resignations from top Justice officials and publicly calls for the Tourism Minister to quit.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 4:49 AM EDT

Source: Reuters

High-Profile Resignations in the Justice Ministry

The primary fallout occurred within the Ministry of Justice, where two key figures stepped down following the voters' rejection of the government's flagship reform:

Andrea Delmastro Delle Vedove (Undersecretary): Resigned amid a scandal involving his business ties. Reports revealed he held a stake in a Rome restaurant alongside the daughter of a man convicted of ties to the Camorra mafia. Additionally, it was discovered he failed to declare this stake to parliament.

Giusi Bartolozzi (Chief of Staff): Stepped down following backlash over campaign comments where she likened the Italian judiciary to a "firing squad" and urged voters to "get rid of" them.

A Surprise Public Call for Resignation

In an unconventional move for Italian politics—where ministerial pressure is typically applied in private—Meloni publicly called for Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche to resign.