- Title: Beppe Grillo, leader of Italy's maverick 5-Star Movement, votes in referendum
- Date: 4th December 2016
- Summary: GENOA, ITALY (DECEMBER 4, 2016) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** LEADER OF 5-STAR MOVEMENT, BEPPE GRILLO, (WEARING HELMET) ARRIVING AT POLLING STATION ON MOTORBIKE GRILLO TAKING OFF HELMET AND ENTERING POLLING STATION GRILLO TAKING BALLOT PAPERS GRILLO ENTERING POLLING BOOTH GRILLO COMING OUT OF POLLING BOOTH AND PLACING BALLOT IN BOX GRILLO PLACING HELMET OVER HEAD (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) LEADER OF 5-STAR MOVEMENT, BEPPE GRILLO, SAYING: "We need to go to elections in any way possible. We have repeated this again and again. And after winter comes spring and the roots haven't been cut." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) LEADER OF 5-STAR MOVEMENT, BEPPE GRILLO, SAYING: "I believe that whatever the outcome we will be confident to go elections. If the current leadership gets the vote I will respect the result." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) LEADER OF 5-STAR MOVEMENT, BEPPE GRILLO, SAYING: "We have done a great job so if we were to lose it is important not to put the blame on anybody because everyone has worked perfectly well. It would mean that the Italian people chose something different. We will respect this government." (Journalist asking off camera): "Why did you vote so late?" (Grillo laughing) "What do you want me to say to that?" VARIOUS OF GRILLO RIDING AWAY ON HIS MOTORBIKE
- Embargoed: 19th December 2016 17:40
- Keywords: Italy Referendum Beppe Grillo 5-star voting Genoa
- Location: GENOA, ITALY
- City: GENOA, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Reuters ID: LVA0015BGVH3B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Beppe Grillo, founder of the anti-euro 5-star Movement, voted in Italy's referendum on constitutional reform on Sunday (December 4).
Grillo voted in his hometown of Genoa and kept media waiting until late afternoon before arriving at the polling station. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and other politicians had voted in the morning.
The 5-star movement has called for supporters to vote "No" in the referendum, saying Renzi's reforms would bring about chaos in the country.
Renzi says his plan to reduce the role of the Senate and centralise power will simplify decision making, but the 5-Star Movement says it will have exactly the opposite effect.
The maverick group stormed onto the national political scene in 2013 when it won more than 25 percent of the national vote, coming in a close second to Renzi's ruling Democratic Party (PD).
Grillo, former comedian, co-founded the movement, whose appeal is based on a drive against the corruption that has tainted Italy's politics for decades.
The result of exit polls will be announced as soon as voting ends and the count begins at 11 p.m. local time (2200 GMT). After around 30 minutes, the first projections of the result will be announced on the basis of actual votes counted.
If the result is not close, the winner could be clear after the second projection, some time between midnight and 1 a.m. local time (0000 GMT). In a very close race, the winner may not be known until the count is completed, probably between 2 and 3 a.m. local time. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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