Italy’s PM Renzi cedes defeat, plans to resign after decisive ‘No’ vote in constitutional referendum

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi says he takes full responsibility for the crashing defeat at the referendum he proposed, which would have reduced the powers of the Senate. Renzi intends to send in his resignation tomorrow.

According to Italy’s Interior Ministry, some 70 percent of Italy’s eligible voters took part in the referendum, after more than two-thirds of polling stations reported their results. An exit poll conducted by the Piepoli Institute/IPR for RAI television estimated that 40.9 percent voted “Yes,” while 59.1 percent voted “No.” RAI projections indicate that voters in only three of Italy’s 20 regions cast ballots to approve the reform, while in 17 regions the proposal was rejected. 

Italy, constitutional referendum, IPR exit poll:

Yes: 40.9%
No: 59.1%

40% counted pic.twitter.com/hOAYOL4ChC

— Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) December 4, 2016

Italy: The regions w voted "Yes" were either partly German-speaking, partly French-spk'ing or Renzi's home region. #referendumcostituzionale

— Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) December 4, 2016

Ahead of the referendum vote, Renzi promised that he would step down if his proposed constitutional reform was not approved.

"L'esperienza del mio governo finisce qui". @matteorenzi si dimette

— Marco Castelnuovo (@chedisagio) December 4, 2016

Renzi dice "è stata una festa della democrazia" e sfida il fronte del No a presentare una proposta di riforma elettorale #referendum

— Sebastiano Messina (@sebmessina1) December 4, 2016

The proposed legislation envisaged a significant reduction in the powers of the Senate, the upper house of the Italian parliament. Under Italy’s 1948 constitution, both chambers of parliament, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, have equal importance in the adoption of any legislation. Before a bill can be made into law, it has to be passed by both chambers. The two-step approval system often led to a gridlock and was blamed for being ineffective. The constitutional amendment put forward by Renzi would have capped the power of the Senate so the government would no longer need its approval on an array of laws, including budget issues.

READ MORE: Italy divided as voters take part in key constitutional referendum on parliamentary powers

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