Polls close in Italy referendum, exit polls suggest Italy PM Renzi heading for heavy defeat

Record ID: 75556

  • Title: Polls close in Italy referendum, exit polls suggest Italy PM Renzi heading for heavy defeat
  • Date: 4th December 2016
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (DECEMBER 4, 2016) (REUTERS) MAN LEAVING POLLING BOOTH AND CASTING BALLOT / ANOTHER VOTER ENTERING POLLING STATION WORKER CHECKING DOCUMENTS BALLOT BOX VARIOUS WORKERS COUNTING NAMES ON REGISTER WORKERS PREPARING DOCUMENTS AFTER CLOSURE OF POLLS "CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM" WRITTEN ON SIDE OF BALLOT BOX WORKER STAMPING DOCUMENTS UNUSED BALLOT PAPERS IN SACK POLICE OFFICERS CARRYING SACK WITH UNUSED BALLOT PAPERS TO LORRY OUTSIDE POLLING STATION
  • Embargoed: 19th December 2016 23:02
  • Keywords: Italy referendum Prime Minister Matteo Renzi polls exit polls
  • Location: ROME, ITALY AND OFF AIR
  • City: ROME, ITALY AND OFF AIR
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015BGYCLJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Polling stations closed across Italy on Sunday evening (December 4) after a day of voting in a referendum on constitutional reform that will decide the political future of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
    Exit polls released as voting ended at 2200gmt appeared to indicate that Renzi's 'Yes' campaign would probably be heavily defeated.
    The prime minister is set to address the nation from his office at 2300gmt.
    About 51 million Italians were eligible to vote on Renzi's plan to drastically reduce the role of the upper house Senate and claw back powers from regional authorities.
    Full results from the referendum are not due until at least 2.00 a.m. local time (0100gmt).
    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 towards a fresh crisis.
    Market jitters have concentrated on Italy's banks, saddled with 360 billion euros ($380 billion) of bad loans, and most specifically on Monte Dei Paschi di Siena, its oldest and third largest lender.
    The bank needs to raise 5 billion euros ($5.3 billion) by the end of the year to plug a capital shortfall or risk being wound down. Government officials say potential investors may be deterred by political instability if 'No' should win.
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