Sultan Of Swing
Well-Known Member
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 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.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38204189
Thoughts?
On the one hand, with the defeat of Hofer in Austria, some suggest there may be some backlash against populism. And yet on the other hand, Renzi seems to have suffered a heavy defeat here in a referendum that has largely been portrayed as the populists vs the establishment. He has said prior to the vote that he would resign if lost.
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.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38204189
Thoughts?
On the one hand, with the defeat of Hofer in Austria, some suggest there may be some backlash against populism. And yet on the other hand, Renzi seems to have suffered a heavy defeat here in a referendum that has largely been portrayed as the populists vs the establishment. He has said prior to the vote that he would resign if lost.