2011 Italian referendums#Nuclear power

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}

{{Infobox referendum

| name = 2011 Italian abrogative referendum

| country = Italy

| flag_year = 2011

| flag_image = Flag of Italy.svg

| date = {{Date_range|2011|6|12|2011|6|13|df=y}}

| image = 2011 Italian referendums.jpg

| caption =

| voting_system = Popular referendum

| time_zone = Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)

| outcome = All four referendums approved, but turnout below the quorum so results were non-binding

| yes_text = Yes

| yes = 27,499,672

| no_text = No

| no = 1,503,113

| blanktype = Blank

| blank = 294,264

| othertype = Invalid

| other = 202,027

| total = 29,499,076

| totalref = {{cite web |title=Referendum abrogativi 2011 – risultati definitivi |url=https://elezioni.interno.gov.it/referendum/scrutini/20110612/scrutiniRI |website=Ministero dell'Interno |accessdate=2025-06-01}}

| electorate = 50,692,125

| voter_registration = 50,692,125

| turnoutpct = 56.9

| part1_subject = Repeal of law allowing privatization of water services

| part1_choice1 = Yes

| part1_percentage1 = 94.6

| part1_choice2 = No

| part1_percentage2 = 5.4

| part2_subject = Repeal of law allowing nuclear power development

| part2_choice1 = Yes

| part2_percentage1 = 94.3

| part2_choice2 = No

| part2_percentage2 = 5.7

| part3_subject = Repeal of law modifying regulation of public utilities

| part3_choice1 = Yes

| part3_percentage1 = 95.0

| part3_choice2 = No

| part3_percentage2 = 5.0

| part4_subject = Repeal of law modifying election rules

| part4_choice1 = Yes

| part4_percentage1 = 95.4

| part4_choice2 = No

| part4_percentage2 = 4.6

| notes = {{url|https://elezioni.interno.gov.it/referendum/scrutini/20110612/scrutiniRI|Ministero dell'Interno – Referendum 2011 results}}

}}

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.{{cite news|title=Italy elections: Berlusconi losing grasp on power|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/31/MNH81JNJEA.DTL|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=3 June 2011|first1=Jeffrey|last1=Donovan|first2=Lorenzo|last2=Totaro|date=1 June 2011}}

Collecting the needed 500,000 signatures started in April 2010. In two months the signatures deposited were 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.epsu.org/article/referendum-water-privatisation-italy |title=Referendum on water privatisation in Italy |date=17 January 2011 | website=www.epsu.org/|language= |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721015335/http://www.epsu.org/article/referendum-water-privatisation-italy |archive-date=21 July 2017 |access-date=19 January 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.blogeko.it/2010/primo-maggio-inizia-la-raccolta-firme-per-il-referendum-contro-il-nucleare/ |title=Primo maggio, inizia la raccolta firme per il referendum contro il nucleare |date=1 May 2010 | website=www.blogeko.it|language=IT |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509033343/https://www.blogeko.it/2010/primo-maggio-inizia-la-raccolta-firme-per-il-referendum-contro-il-nucleare/ |archive-date=9 May 2010 |access-date=19 January 2022}}

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.{{Cite web|title=Referendum – Ministero dell'Interno |url=http://referendum.interno.it/RF000.htm |access-date=10 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928052803/http://referendum.interno.it/RF000.htm |archive-date=28 September 2011|publisher=referendum.interno.it }}

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,{{cite web|url=http://www.salernonotizie.it/notizia.asp?ID=17052|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108142605/http://www.salernonotizie.it/notizia.asp?ID=17052|title=la notizia � stata spostata o eliminatadal Database|archive-date=8 November 2011|access-date=12 June 2011|publisher=salernonotizie.it}} and 30.32% at 19.00, indicating that the necessary quorum would likely be reached.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ilsalvagente.it/Sezione.jsp?titolo=Referendum,%20l%27Italia%20ci%20crede:%20alle%2019%20affluenza%20sopra%20il%2030%&idSezione=11117 |title=L'affluenza alle 19 |access-date=12 June 2011 |archive-url=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 |archive-date=26 July 2011 |url-status=dead }} 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/static/speciale/2011/referendum/index.html|title=Referendum popolare 12–13 giugno 2011 – la Repubblica.it}} 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.{{Cite news|author=Di Caro Paola|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/maggio/12/Referendum_Berlusconi_per_astensione_co_0_0005126818.shtml|title=Referendum, Berlusconi per l'astensione|date=12 May 2000|publisher=il Corriere della Sera|access-date=9 August 2014|language=it}}