Italy
referendum: PM Matteo Renzi suffers heavy defeat, exit polls suggest
BBC,
4
December, 2016
Italian
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has suffered a heavy defeat in a
referendum over his plan to reform the constitution, exit polls
suggest.
An
exit poll for state broadcaster RAI suggests 42-46% voted to back
reform, compared with 54-58% voting No.
The
first projection based on the vote count points to an even wider
defeat: Yes at 39-43% and No at 57-61%.
Mr
Renzi, who has said he would resign if he lost the vote, is due to
make a statement at midnight (23:00 GMT).
The
referendum was regarded as a barometer of anti-establishment
sentiment in Europe.
The
vote asked about plans to streamline parliament but it was widely
seen as a chance to register discontent with the prime minister.
Populist
parties supported a No vote.
The
euro fell against the dollar immediately after the exit polls came
out.
There
have been growing concerns over financial stability in the eurozone's
third largest economy, if Mr Renzi falls from power, as now seems
likely.
Opposition
leaders from the Northern League and Forza Italia have called for Mr
Renzi's resignation.
The
turnout was very high by Italian standards - about 60% of the
electorate cast their vote.
Nearly
two-thirds voted in prosperous northern Italy but the turnout was
much lower in the south.
Italian
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has announced his resignation and said he
takes "full responsibility" for the "extraordinarily
clear defeat" in the constitutional referendum.
Italy
referendum exit polls suggest clear victory for 'No'
Early
results showed the No vote on 59 per cent and on course to achieve
the sizeable victory predicted by exit polls.
Mr
Renzi had conflated his centrist leadership with a "Yes"
vote and promised to step down if he lost.
Addressing
the nation at a press conference from the Palazzo Chigi on Sunday
night, Mr Renzi said "my experience of government finishes
here".
"We
tried, we gave Italians a chance to change but we didn't make it. We
wanted to win not to take part in the competition.
"I
lost. I can admit it and I am sorry. I was not able to lead you to
the victory.
Good
luck to us all," he concluded.
Mr
Renzi said he would visit President Sergio Mattarella on Monday to
formally hand in his resignation following a final meeting of his
cabinet.
Mr
Mattarella will then be tasked with brokering the appointment of a
new government or, if he is unable do that, ordering early elections.
Most
political analysts see the most likely scenario being that Renzi's
administration will be replaced by a caretaker one dominated by his
Democratic Party, which will carry on until an election due to take
place by the spring of 2018.
Angelino
Alfano, Italy's Interior minister and a Yes supporter, said on
Twitter: "Together with million of Italians we played a good
game but we lost it. It was good to play it and was the right thing
for Italy.”
Former
Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi, who supported the No vote,
said he wanted to set a meeting to change the electoral law as soon
as possible. He is due to speak officially tomorrow.
Far-right
candidate Norbert Hofer has lost Austria's presidential election.
On
Facebook, he described himself as "infinitely sad" and
congratulated Alexander Van der Bellen, former head of the Greens, on
his victory.
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