ADVERTISEMENT

Renzi says he will quit if 'No' wins in referendum

37 percent are still undecided, according to the survey published by the Il Sole24Ore newspaper

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi took office in early 2014

"I'm not the sort to cling to a throne of power for power's sake. I'm only here if I can change things," Renzi said.

"If the citzens vote 'No'... I'm not going to be the one who agrees with the other parties to form a technical government tasked with just one aim," that of reforming the electoral law before a possible snap vote, he told RTL 102.5 radio.

Italy holds a referendum on December 4 on proposed constitutional reforms that are considered the most important in the eurozone country since World War II.

ADVERTISEMENT

They are aimed at increasing political stability in a country which has had 60 governments since 1946, by streamlining parliament and the electoral system.

However, the referendum has become a vote of confidence in the centre-left prime minister who took office in early 2014.

An opinion poll released Thursday showed that 34 percent of Italians would vote "No" and 29 percent "Yes".

But 37 percent are still undecided, according to the survey published by the Il Sole24Ore newspaper.

If the "No" wins, Renzi would have to step down, several political experts predict.

ADVERTISEMENT

"It is difficult to imagine how he could not do that," Giovanni Orsina, a political science professor in Rome, said recently.

President Sergio Mattarella could task Renzi with leading a technical government, a scenario Italy has witnessed in previous political crises.

The cabinet would be tasked with amending the electoral law before a snap election.

Renzi on Thursday rejected such an outcome, saying he would not take part in "little games of old-style politics".

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

New minimum wage announcement on May Day not feasible - TUC president

New minimum wage announcement on May Day not feasible - TUC president

Yahaya Bello: School writes EFCC to refund $760k fees paid for ex-Kogi gov's children

Yahaya Bello: School writes EFCC to refund $760k fees paid for ex-Kogi gov's children

Cross River Govt to compensate Calabar/Itu property owners with ₦400m

Cross River Govt to compensate Calabar/Itu property owners with ₦400m

Tinubu is not afraid to make tough decisions even if they bring hardship

Tinubu is not afraid to make tough decisions even if they bring hardship

Anambra Govt to distribute new malaria vaccine, aims for malaria-free State

Anambra Govt to distribute new malaria vaccine, aims for malaria-free State

Commuters trek to work - Fuel hike halts Kaduna motorcyclists services

Commuters trek to work - Fuel hike halts Kaduna motorcyclists services

TETFund denies corruption allegation, vows to sanitise tertiary education system

TETFund denies corruption allegation, vows to sanitise tertiary education system

Excessive heat in Kano State may lead to heat-stroke, meningitis cerebrum

Excessive heat in Kano State may lead to heat-stroke, meningitis cerebrum

Tinubu says Nigeria, Netherlands partnerships will aid economic development

Tinubu says Nigeria, Netherlands partnerships will aid economic development

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT