This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38204189

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Italy PM 'set for referendum loss' Italian referendum: PM Matteo Renzi suffers heavy defeat, exit polls suggest
(35 minutes later)
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has suffered a heavy defeat in a referendum over his plan to reform the constitution, exit polls suggest.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 on television station RAI, suggest those voting to back the reform at 42-46%, compared with 54-58% voting No. An exit poll on state broadcaster RAI suggests 42-46% voted to back reform, compared with 54-58% voting No.
Two other polls gave the No vote a similar lead of at least 10 points.
Mr Renzi, who has said he would resign if he lost the vote, is due to make a statement at midnight (23:00 GMT) from his official residence in Rome.
The referendum was regarded as a barometer of anti-establishment sentiment in Europe.The referendum was regarded as a barometer of anti-establishment sentiment in Europe.
Mr Renzi will make a statement at midnight (23:00 GMT). The vote asked about plans to streamline parliament but it was widely seen as a chance to register discontent with the prime minister.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. Populist parties supported a No vote.
If you want to receive Breaking News alerts via email, or on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App then details on how to do so are available on this help page. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts. Opposition leaders from the Northern League and Forza Italia have called for Mr Renzi's resignation.
The turnout was very high by Italian standards.
Nearly two-thirds of the electorate has voted in prosperous northern Italy but the turnout was much lower in the south.
What a No vote means
The No campaign in Italy has been spearheaded by the the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, led by Beppe Grillo.
It wants a referendum on whether Italy should keep the euro.
The projections, if they are right, will give a boost to populist parties, including the Five Star Movement and the anti-immigrant Northern League.
The referendum comes in the wake of the Brexit vote in the UK in June, and coincides with the rise of the anti-immigrant Front National in France and populist parties elsewhere. It also comes less than a month after the election of Donald Trump in the United States.
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.