Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resigns after referendum defeat
Voters reject constitutional changes, leading to warnings of an 'Italexit' that would 'make Brexit look like a picnic'
Matteo Renzi, the Italian Prime Minister, has said he will resign after voters overwhelmingly rejected a raft of constitutional changes in Sunday's referendum.
With most ballots counted, "the No vote leads with 60 per cent against 40 per cent for Yes", the BBC reports.
Renzi conceded defeat hours before official results were released. "My experience of government finishes here," he said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The result marks a "major victory for anti-establishment and right-wing parties" and threatens to plunge "the eurozone's third-largest economy into political chaos", says The Guardian.
Renzi aimed to restrict the power of Italy's senate by reducing the number of senators from 315 to 100 and stripping it of the ability to hold votes of no confidence in the government.
However, the referendum became "a litmus test for the rising wave of populism spreading in Europe", says CNN, "and the chance to register discontent with the current government".
Unlikely allies the anti-immigrant Northern League party and the populist Five Star Movement "locked arms to take on Renzi in the hope – now realised – of driving him out of office", the Guardian adds.
The "anti-establishment revolt" could now "gift power to populists wanting to taking the country out of the euro", says the Daily Mail. "Now for Italexit!" it adds. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_original","fid":"104569","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"794","width":"566"}}]]
Desmond Lachman, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, warns a "prolonged period of political uncertainty is the last thing that a sclerotic Italian economy now needs" and that a future "Italexit" would "make Brexit look like a picnic".
The two frontrunners for the post of prime minister are Pier Carlo Padoan, the finance minister, and Dario Franceschini, the culture minister.
The task of forming an interim government will fall to President Sergio Mattarella. However, Luigi Di Maio, the leader of the Five Star Movement and "widely tipped to be a prime minister in any future Five Star government", is calling for immediate elections, says the Daily Telegraph.
Infographic by www.statista.com for TheWeek.co.uk.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published