- Title: Italians apprehensive for referendum result
- Date: 2nd December 2016
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (DECEMBER 2, 2016) (REUTERS) PEOPLE SHOPPING AT CAMPO DEI FIORI FRUIT AND VEGETABLE MARKET MAN BROWSING AT FLOWER STALL WOMAN FLORIST ARRANGING BUNCH OF SUNFLOWERS PEOPLE AT VEGETABLE STALL WOMAN PAYING STALL-HOLDER FOR PRODUCE WOMAN PLACING NOTES AND COINS IN PURSE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) STALL HOLDER, PIPPO NICOSIA, SAYING: "In my opinion, I'm not afraid for anything, because I think things will carry on as before. We don't have a strong Italy, we don't have a competitive Italy, this we all know. But for the people, what will change - we might as well throw in the towel, because 'No' will win - everything will collapse so we might as well all go on holiday." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RESIDENT, ANNA CAMERANO, SAYING: "I think a vote for 'Yes' would give greater stability, and above all it would be an attempt in a country that is stuck to begin to organise a much quicker system. The world is a global one and is fast-moving - we instead are terribly slow." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RESIDENT, CLAUDIO DE ANGELIS, SAYING: (Journalist asks are you worried about Italy's banks?) "Personally no' because I don't deal with banks. But popular opinion indicates that something will change. Let's hope things will get better if 'No' wins." MAN BUYING BOUQUET OF FLOWERS STALL-HOLDER COUNTING MONEY INTO CASH BOX PEOPLE BROWSING IN MARKET WOMAN BUYING FRUIT FROM STALL-HOLDER
- Embargoed: 17th December 2016 11:04
- Keywords: Italy referendum Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi vote economy
- Location: ROME, ITALY
- City: ROME, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Reuters ID: LVA0015B6Y9TZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Italians are concerned for their economy and particularly their money whatever the result of the referendum on Sunday (December 4).
The vote is on Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's plans to abolish the elected upper house Senate and replace it with a chamber of regional representatives which will have much reduced powers. The government is also proposing taking back some key decision-making powers from the regions.
Renzi says the changes would end parliamentary deadlocks and help the long-stagnant economy, while opponents say they would weaken democracy and concentrate too much power in the hands of the country's prime minister. The Prime Minister has promised to resign if he loses the vote.
"We don't have a strong Italy, we don't have a competitive Italy, this we all know. But for the people, what will change - we might as well throw in the towel, because 'No' will win - everything will collapse so we might as well all go on holiday," said stall-holder Pippo Nicosia at Rome's central Campo Dei Fiori market.
Some shoppers were hoping for a 'Yes' vote.
"I think a vote for 'Yes' would give greater stability," said Rome resident Anna Camerano.
"And above all it would be an attempt in a country that is stuck to begin to organise a much quicker system. The world is a global one and is fast-moving - we instead are terribly slow," Camerano added.
After 2-1/2 years in power, Renzi can point to some achievements - such as liberalising rigid labour rules, granting legal protection to same-sex couples and offering a series of small-scale tax cuts to workers.
Nevertheless, recovery from deep recession has stalled, with zero growth recorded in the second quarter of 2016 - the joint lowest reading in the 19-nation euro zone - and efforts to end a deep-rooted banking crisis failing to take wing.
The sense of letdown felt by some voters helps to explain why Renzi is struggling to sell his most ambitious reform yet, a complex revision of the Italian constitution.
Opinion polls are banned in the last two weeks of campaigning. Before the blackout started on November 18, the final battery of surveys all showed the 'No' camp well ahead, but with up to 25 percent of voters still undecided. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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