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Italy referendum: PM Matteo Renzi resigns after clear referendum defeat | Italy referendum: PM Matteo Renzi resigns after clear referendum defeat |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has resigned after suffering a heavy defeat in a referendum over his plan to reform the constitution. | Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has resigned after suffering a heavy defeat in a referendum over his plan to reform the constitution. |
In a late-night news conference, he said he took responsibility for the outcome. He said the No camp must now make clear proposals. | In a late-night news conference, he said he took responsibility for the outcome. He said the No camp must now make clear proposals. |
An exit poll for state broadcaster RAI suggests 42-46% voted to back reform, compared with 54-58% voting No. | An exit poll for state broadcaster RAI suggests 42-46% voted to back reform, compared with 54-58% voting No. |
The first projections based on the official count point to a wider defeat. | The first projections based on the official count point to a wider defeat. |
Early indications have the Yes vote at 39-43% and the No at 57-61%. | Early indications have the Yes vote at 39-43% and the No at 57-61%. |
"Good luck to us all," Mr Renzi told reporters. He said he would tell a Cabinet meeting on Monday afternoon that he was resigning, and then tender his resignation to the Italian president after two-and-a-half years in office. | "Good luck to us all," Mr Renzi told reporters. He said he would tell a Cabinet meeting on Monday afternoon that he was resigning, and then tender his resignation to the Italian president after two-and-a-half years in office. |
The president is expected to ask him to stay on at least until parliament passes a budget bill later this month. | |
Mr Renzi said the reforms he proposed would have cut Italy's bureaucracy and made the country more competitive. | |
But the referendum was widely seen as a chance to register discontent with the prime minister. | |
The No vote was supported by populist parties, and the referendum was regarded as a barometer of anti-establishment sentiment in Europe. | The No vote was supported by populist parties, and the referendum was regarded as a barometer of anti-establishment sentiment in Europe. |
The populist Five Star Movement says it is getting ready to govern Italy now that Mr Renzi is resigning. "Starting tomorrow we'll be at work on a Five Star government," one of its leaders, Luigi Di Maio, said. | |
The movement, led by comedian Beppe Grillo, spearheaded the winning No campaign. | |
Opposition leader Matteo Salvini, of the anti-immigrant Northern League, called the referendum a "victory of the people against the strong powers of three-quarters of the world". | |
A striking victory for Italy's opposition - James Reynolds, BBC News, Rome | A striking victory for Italy's opposition - James Reynolds, BBC News, Rome |
Matteo Renzi gambled - and lost. | Matteo Renzi gambled - and lost. |
His country's voters have told him - decisively - that they do not want constitutional reform. | His country's voters have told him - decisively - that they do not want constitutional reform. |
The result of this referendum is a striking victory for this country's many opposition parties - led in this campaign by the populist Five Star Movement. | The result of this referendum is a striking victory for this country's many opposition parties - led in this campaign by the populist Five Star Movement. |
Five Star's immediate goal now will be victory in the next general election - and a rethink of Italy's relationship with the European Union. | Five Star's immediate goal now will be victory in the next general election - and a rethink of Italy's relationship with the European Union. |
But the next election is not due to be held until February 2018. | But the next election is not due to be held until February 2018. |
Italy's president may ask a caretaker from Mr Renzi's Democratic party, possibly the Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan, to serve till then. | Italy's president may ask a caretaker from Mr Renzi's Democratic party, possibly the Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan, to serve till then. |
There has been an immediate reaction from right-wing leaders in Europe. | There has been an immediate reaction from right-wing leaders in Europe. |
The leader of Front Nationale in France, Marine Le Pen, tweeted her congratulations to the Northern League. | The leader of Front Nationale in France, Marine Le Pen, tweeted her congratulations to the Northern League. |
"The Italians have disavowed the EU and Renzi. We must listen to this thirst for freedom of nations," she said. | "The Italians have disavowed the EU and Renzi. We must listen to this thirst for freedom of nations," she said. |
The euro fell against the dollar immediately after the exit polls came out. | 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. | There have been growing concerns over financial stability in the eurozone's third largest economy. |
The turnout was very high by Italian standards - about 60% of the electorate cast their vote. | 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. | Nearly two-thirds voted in prosperous northern Italy but the turnout was much lower in the south. |
What a No vote means | What a No vote means |
The No campaign in Italy has been spearheaded by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, led by Beppe Grillo. | The No campaign in Italy has been spearheaded by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, led by Beppe Grillo. |
It wants a referendum on whether Italy should keep the euro. | It wants a referendum on whether Italy should keep the euro. |
Populist parties, including the Five Star Movement and the anti-immigrant Northern League. | 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. | 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. |
Some 50 million Italians have the right to vote in the referendum - many voters are fed up with years of economic stagnation. | Some 50 million Italians have the right to vote in the referendum - many voters are fed up with years of economic stagnation. |