Italy votes today in referendum with PM Renzi's future at stake

Italy votes in referendum with PM Renzi's future at stake

Italians were voting on Sunday in a referendum on constitutional reform that will decide the political future of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who has promised to resign if he loses.

Financial markets and Europe's politicians fear victory for the opposition 'No' camp could cause political instability and renewed turmoil for Italy's battered banks, pushing the euro zone toward a fresh crisis.

About 51 million Italians are eligible to vote on Renzi's plan to drastically reduce the role of the upper house Senate and claw back powers from regional authorities.

By noon, 20 percent of citizens had voted, the Interior Ministry said, more than the 17 percent who had cast ballots by the same time in May 2014 for the European Parliament election.

...

All surveys published in the month before a blackout was imposed on Nov. 18 put the 'No' camp ahead. Private polls have continued to be conducted in the last two weeks and bookmakers say 'No' remains the clear favorite to win.

The bookies put this one at 75 percent chance of a win for 'No'.

We should know for sure sometime later today.

I guess the question is whether the Italians will confound the establishment and vote against the Renzi reforms. If they do vote "no" then Renzi's position is untenable.

Renzi's campaign has been based off the back of a pro-EU hymn sheet. If "no" then this does introduce yet another problem for the EU as new elections in Italy may bring anti-EU parties to the fore.

Interesting times.

originally posted by: paraphi
Interesting times.

Indeed.

Also today, Austria does their re-vote.

Is this weekend the EU DIES? Major votes in Italy and Austria could spark end of the bloc

Could be historic.

a reply to: loam

Spoke to some relatives and they feel the 'No' vote will carry by a wide margin. The loss of local influence and control was something that did not appeal to them at all.

Fingers crossed for a big "no" win.

a reply to: loam

Hopefully freedom wins and the people send these Gobalist bastards back into the hole they crawled out of...go Italy!

a reply to: loam

Lets not also forget Austria who also vote today, both could have major implications for the club called the EU

"Austrians are voting in a re-run of a presidential election which pits far-right Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer against former Green Party head Alexander Van der Bellen.
The vote last May was narrowly won by Mr Van der Bellen, but the result was overturned by Austria's highest court because of irregularities in the count.
If Mr Hofer wins, he will become the EU's first far-right head of state."

BBC News

On Topic, i hope the vote in Italy is NO ...... purely, as a Brexiter, it would really shake the foundations of the club and the IMF

a reply to: loam

Has anyone posted any early exit polls yet? The Italians should already have been voting....



If they wait until the polls close, at 7pm local time in Italy ... then we have just a few more hours to wait, no? 3 more hours to wait maybe?

I will keep looking!

a reply to: Fowlerstoad

It's 11pm their time, so 5pm est.

That's when the exit polls will be released. Actual poll results shortly thereafter.

a reply to: loam


Cool ... and thanks!

I will be watching this thread

This just in:

Austrian far-right presidential hopeful soundly defeated

It's done.



Italian PM Renzi suffers heavy defeat in key referendum - projection

Italian PM Matteo Renzi has suffered a heavy defeat in a key referendum on constitutional reform, according to a projection.

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

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

a reply to: loam

Ciao, perdente. Ci vediamo.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Yup. This is a big deal.

So much for Brexit being a one-off in Eurpoe. I'm reading that Renzi is about to announce his resignation.

Meanwhile, on Drudge:

Skynews Live Feed



He's resigned.

"Jean-Claude Juncker recommends that all electoral processes in states belonging to the EU should be suspended for the duration of the present emergency".
No, this is still an imaginary headline.