2011 Italian referendums explained

A nationwide abrogative referendum was held in Italy on 12 and 13 June 2011, on four questions concerning the repeal of recent laws regarding the privatisation of water services (two questions), a return to the nuclear energy which had been phased out after the 1987 referendum, and criminal procedure, specifically a provision exempting the Prime Minister and the Ministers from appearing in court. The first aim of those campaigning for a yes vote was to ensure that the quorum (50% + 1) of the electorate was reached.^[1]

Collecting the needed 500,000 signatures started in April 2010. In two months che signatures deposited where 1,4 milion. The Italian Supreme Court (Court of Cassation) validated two questions about water issues in January 2011 and ruled the referendum to be held on 12–13 June 2011.^{[2] [3]}

The Italians with the right to vote numbered 47,118,352 (22,604,349 men and 24,514,003 women), in addition to 3,300,496 Italians resident abroad. In order for the quorum to be reached, at least 25.209.425 votes for each question had to be cast.^[4]

Turnout, while below general election records, was higher than it had been for any referendum since 1995; on 12 June 2011, turnout had reached 11.64% at midday,^[5] and 30.32% at 19.00, indicating that the necessary quorum would likely be reached.^[6] When polls closed on 13 June 2011, turnout was 56.9%, with clear majorities of 94.6% to 96.1% in favour on all questions,^[7] meaning that about 53,8% to 54,7% of electorate approved them. Silvio Berlusconi, the then-Prime Minister, implicitly invited to boycott the vote in the hope that the required quorum would not be met.^[8]

Position of main political parties

Parties with parliamentary representation

Party		1st question	2nd question	3rd question	4th question	Source
		No	No	Yes	Yes	^[9]
		ND	ND	ND	ND	^[10] ^[11]
		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	^[12]
		ND	ND	ND	ND	^[13]
		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	^[14]
		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	^[15]
		Abstention	Abstention	Abstention	Abstention	^[16]
		ND	ND	Yes	Yes	^[17]
		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	^[18]
		No	No	ND	Yes	^[19]

ND = no direction.

Parties without parliamentary representation

Party		1st question	2nd question	3rd question	4th question	Source
bgcolor=		Federation of the Left	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	^[20]
bgcolor=		Tricolour Flame	Yes	Yes	ND	Abstention	^[21]
bgcolor=		New Force	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	^[22]
bgcolor=		The Right	Yes	Yes	Yes	Abstention	^[23]
bgcolor=		Five Star Movement	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	^[24]
bgcolor=		Workers' Communist Party	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	^[25]
bgcolor=		Italian Socialist Party	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	^[26]
bgcolor=		Pensioners' Party	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
bgcolor=		Critical Left	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
bgcolor=		Left Ecology Freedom	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	^[27]
bgcolor=		Federation of the Greens	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	^[28]

High offices of the Republic

The President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano declared he would take part to the referendums, without revealing his intentions regarding the votes.^[29]

The President of the Senate of the Republic Renato Schifani underlined the importance of the vote as a form of democratic participation and said he would vote.^[30]

The President of the Chamber of Deputies Gianfranco Fini declared he would vote.^[31]

The President of the Council of ministers Silvio Berlusconi declared he would not vote.^[32] His statement, "the Constitution gives the right to citizens to say yes or no to the referendum, but also to say 'I do not mind this question, I do not vote'", was considered an implicit invitation for his electorate to abstain, so that the referendums would fail quorum.

Privatization of water services

• Ballot Colour: Red.
• Description: Repeal of the law that allowed the private sector to be entrusted the management of local public services.

Profit on water services

• Ballot Colour: Yellow
• Description: Repeal of the regulations governing the determination of tariffs for water supply services, in the part where they provided that the amount must assure a return on the invested capital.

Nuclear power

• Ballot Colour: grey.
• Description: Repeal of the new laws that allowed the operation of nuclear powerplants on Italian territory.

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	25,643,652	94.05
No	1,622,090	5.95
Invalid/blank votes	359,180	–
Total	27,624,922	100
Registered voters/turnout	50,594,868	54.79
align=left colspan=3	Source: Italian Ministry of the Interior

Legal impediment

• Ballot Colour: green.
• Description: Repeal of the provisions introducing legittimo impedimento, which allowed the President of the Council of Ministers and the Ministers to be excused from appearing in court if prevented from doing so by government commitments.

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	25,736,273	94.62
No	1,462,888	5.38
Invalid/blank votes	422,785	–
Total	27,622,369	100
Registered voters/turnout	50,594,868	54.78
align=left colspan=3	Source: Italian Ministry of the Interior

Results by region

Region	Voting %	Question 1	Question 2	Question 3	Question 4
	60.85%	Yes 96.6% No 3.4%	Yes 97.0% No 3.0%	Yes 95.2% No 4.8%	Yes 95.8% No 4.2%
	59.00%	Yes 94.7% No 5.3%	Yes 95.2% No 4.8%	Yes 93.1% No 6.9%	Yes 94.3% No 5.7%
	59.45%	Yes 95.7% No 4.3%	Yes 96.2% No 3.8%	Yes 94.0% No 6.0%	Yes 95.0% No 5.0%
	54.40%	Yes 93.4% No 6.6%	Yes 94.1% No 5.9%	Yes 91.6% No 8.4%	Yes 93.2% No 6.8%
	64.60%	Yes 96.8% No 3.2%	Yes 97.1% No 2.9%	Yes 96.1% No 3.9%	Yes 96.3% No 3.7%
	58.90%	Yes 94.7% No 5.3%	Yes 95.3% No 4.7%	Yes 93.5% No 6.5%	Yes 93.7% No 6.3%
	58.20%	Yes 95.0% No 5.0%	Yes 95.6% No 4.4%	Yes 93.4% No 6.6%	Yes 93.9% No 6.1%
	64.15%	Yes 95.0% No 5.0%	Yes 95.4% No 4.6%	Yes 94.3% No 5.7%	Yes 95.0% No 5.0%
	63.60%	Yes 95.7% No 4.3%	Yes 96.0% No 4.0%	Yes 95.1% No 4.9%	Yes 95.5% No 4.5%
	61.60%	Yes 95.9% No 4.1%	Yes 96.3% No 3.7%	Yes 95.2% No 4.8%	Yes 95.3% No 4.7%
	59.20%	Yes 95.5% No 4.5%	Yes 96.1% No 3.9%	Yes 94.7% No 5.3%	Yes 95.1% No 4.9%
	58.90%	Yes 96.3% No 3.7%	Yes 96.9% No 3.1%	Yes 95.1% No 4.9%	Yes 95.5% No 4.5%
	57.50%	Yes 96.4% No 3.5%	Yes 97.0% No 3.0%	Yes 95.7% No 4.3%	Yes 95.6% No 4.4%
	58.70%	Yes 97.4% No 2.6%	Yes 97.8% No 2.2%	Yes 96.8% No 3.2%	Yes 96.5% No 3.5%
	52.30%	Yes 97.8% No 2.2%	Yes 98.1% No 1.9%	Yes 96.7% No 3.3%	Yes 96.8% No 3.2%
	54.35%	Yes 97.3% No 2.7%	Yes 97.7% No 2.3%	Yes 96.8% No 3.2%	Yes 96.7% No 3.3%
	52.50%	Yes 97.3% No 2.7%	Yes 97.6% No 2.4%	Yes 96.7% No 3.3%	Yes 96.4% No 3.6%
	50.35%	Yes 98.0% No 2.0%	Yes 98.3% No 1.7%	Yes 97.3% No 2.7%	Yes 96.9% No 3.1%
	52.70%	Yes 97.6% No 2.4%	Yes 97.9% No 2.1%	Yes 96.5% No 3.5%	Yes 96.2% No 3.8%
	58.60%	Yes 98.2% No 1.8%	Yes 98.5% No 1.5%	Yes 98.4% No 1.6%	Yes 96.5% No 3.5%

Notes and References

1. News: Italy elections: Berlusconi losing grasp on power. San Francisco Chronicle. 3 June 2011. Jeffrey. Donovan. Lorenzo. Totaro. 1 June 2011.
2. Web site: Referendum on water privatisation in Italy . 17 January 2011 . www.epsu.org/. https://web.archive.org/web/20170721015335/http://www.epsu.org/article/referendum-water-privatisation-italy . 21 July 2017 . 19 January 2022.
3. Web site: Primo maggio, inizia la raccolta firme per il referendum contro il nucleare . 1 May 2010 . www.blogeko.it. IT . https://web.archive.org/web/20100509033343/https://www.blogeko.it/2010/primo-maggio-inizia-la-raccolta-firme-per-il-referendum-contro-il-nucleare/ . 9 May 2010 . 19 January 2022.
4. Web site: Referendum – Ministero dell'Interno . 10 October 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928052803/http://referendum.interno.it/RF000.htm . 28 September 2011. referendum.interno.it .
5. Web site: la notizia � stata spostata o eliminatadal Database. https://web.archive.org/web/20111108142605/http://www.salernonotizie.it/notizia.asp?ID=17052. 8 November 2011. 12 June 2011. salernonotizie.it.
6. Web site: L'affluenza alle 19 . 12 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726052648/http://www.ilsalvagente.it/Sezione.jsp?titolo=Referendum,%20l%27Italia%20ci%20crede:%20alle%2019%20affluenza%20sopra%20il%2030%&idSezione=11117 . 26 July 2011 . dead .
7. Web site: Referendum popolare 12–13 giugno 2011 – la Repubblica.it.
8. News: Di Caro Paola. Referendum, Berlusconi per l'astensione. 12 May 2000. il Corriere della Sera. 9 August 2014. it.
9. Web site: Rutelli: Bene Cassazione, ora vittoria sì su nucleare. Alleanza per l'Italia. 3 June 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110903184347/http://www.alleanzaperlitalia.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2228:referendum-rutelli-lbene-cassazione-ora-vittoria-si-su-nuclearer&catid=3:politiche. 3 September 2011.
10. Web site: Fini: ai Referendum andrò a votare, spero anche gli Italiani. Futuro e Libertà. 3 June 2011.
11. Web site: Referendum, Fini: importante andare a votare. Ma Fli si spacca. Il Messaggero. 3 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930214943/http://www.ilmessaggero.it/articolo_app.php?id=38930&sez=HOME_INITALIA&npl=&desc_sez=. 30 September 2011. dead.
12. Web site: Referendum: 'Non c'è più tempo. Ora, è ora!'. Italia dei Valori. 3 June 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110603172229/http://www.italiadeivalori.it/territorio/piemonte/4925-referendum-non-ce-piu-tempo-ora-e-ora. 3 June 2011.
13. Web site: 8 June 2011 . Lega, l'annuncio del capogruppo alla Camera Reguzzoni: «Lasceremo libertà di coscienza sui 4 quesiti» . Corriere della Sera.
14. Web site: Lombardo: no a nucleare e legittimo impedimento, sì all'acqua pubblica. Movimento per le Autonomie. 3 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110807171904/http://www.mpa-sicilia.it/articolo.php?aid=791. 7 August 2011. dead.
15. Web site: Cartolina referendum. Partito Democratico. 3 June 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110531232614/http://beta.partitodemocratico.it/doc/209394/cartolina-referendum.htm. 31 May 2011.
16. Web site: Nucleare: Pdl, liberta' voto su referendum. 3 June 2011. Il Secolo XIX. June 2011. 24 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724083246/http://www.ilsecoloxix.it/p/pol/2011/06/01/AOCMQdY-nucleare.shtml. dead.
17. Web site: Difendi i referendum del 12 e 13 giugno con una donazione. Radicali Italiani. 3 June 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110528134148/http://www.radicali.it/referendum2011. 28 May 2011.
18. Web site: Abstimmungs- empfehlung der Südtiroler Volkspartei zu den Volksabstimmungen vom 12. und 13. Juni. Südtiroler Volkspartei. 3 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110613162412/http://www.svpartei.org/de/themen/51.html. 13 June 2011. dead.
19. Web site: Referendum: Cesa, bisogna andare a votare. Unione di Centro. 3 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930094254/http://www.udc-italia.it/News/SchedaReader.aspx?TypeID=3&ID=96250. 30 September 2011. dead.
20. Web site: Federazione della Sinistra .
21. http://www.fiammatricolore.com/files/files/referendum%202011.doc Fiammatricolore.com
22. http://www.forzanuova.org/comunicati/referendum-forza-nuova-4-volte-si-il-futuro-della-patria Forzanuova.org
23. Web site: AgenziaParlamentare .
24. http://www.beppegrillo.it/listeciviche/liste/roma/2011/03/parte-la-campagna-di-supporto-ai-referendum-del-movimento-cinque-stelle-di-roma.html BeppeGrillo.it
25. Web site: Volantino nazionale PCL .
26. Web site: 18 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110618092545/http://www.partitosocialista.it/site/partecipa_referendum_2011/514/referendum_2011.aspx . PSI .
27. http://www.sinistraecologialiberta.it/referendum/ Sinistra Ecologia Liberta - Battiquorum
28. http://www.verdi.it/referendum2011 Verdi.it
29. News: Napolitano: 'Sono un elettore che fa sempre il suo dovere'. rainews24.rai.it. 10 October 2011. it.
30. News: Referendum: Schifani andrà alle urne, voterà a Palermo. La Provincia di Como. 10 June 2011. 10 October 2011. it. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120403064934/http://www.laprovinciadicomo.it/stories/apcom/211682_referendum_schifani_andr_alle_urne_voter_a_palermo/. 3 April 2012.
31. News: Granata: "Fini invita a partecipazione attiva". la Repubblica. 10 October 2011. it.
32. News: Berlusconi annuncia: "Non andrò a votare al referendum". Il Sole 24 Ore. 10 October 2011. it.