which way now for italy

Italian PM Matteo Renzi to resign in wake of referendum defeat

Matteo Renzi had staked his political future on voters backing the constitutional changes, and promised to resign if he lost.






Italian PM Matteo Renzi has said he will resign after losing a key referendum on constitutional reform.

Mr Renzi had staked his future on a "Yes" vote, vowing to quit if voters rejected his plans to reduce the role of the country's Senate and take back powers from regional authorities.

A projection by the Piepoli Institute/IPR for state broadcaster RAI estimated 57-61% will vote "No", compared to 39-43% for "Yes".

The projection pointed to an even wider margin of defeat for Mr Renzi than was suggested by three exit polls released immediately after polls closed.


Opposition parties were quick to call for Mr Renzi to go.

"Renzi is going to go and with him the powerful lobbies who were also defeated", Renato Brunetta, the parliamentary leader of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia party.


from http://news.sky.com/story/italian-pm-matteo-renzi-to-resign-in-wake-of-referendum-defeat-10683879

"...Mr Renzi will be Italy's third unelected prime minister in three years..."



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10643606/Matteo-Renzi-appointed-as-Italys-youngest-ever-prime-minister.html