ROME — (AP) — Italy's referendums aimed at relaxing citizenship laws and improving job protections failed on Monday because of low turnout.

But organizers said that it contributed to restarting the public debate in the country over high-stakes issues.

The result was a clear defeat for the center-left opposition and a victory for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her ruling right-wing coalition, which openly supported abstention.

Final data showed that turnout stood at 30.6% of eligible voters after two days of polling, well below the 50% plus one required to make the vote valid.

Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy party celebrated the referendum's failure.

“The only real goal of this referendum was to bring down the Meloni government," the party said on social media, posting a pi

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