Prime Minister Renzi votes in Italian referendum on constitutional reform

Record ID: 75653

  • Title: Prime Minister Renzi votes in Italian referendum on constitutional reform
  • Date: 4th December 2016
  • Summary: FLORENCE, ITALY (DECEMBER 4, 2016) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER, MATTEO RENZI, ARRIVING AT POLLING STATION WITH FAMILY INTERIOR OF POLLING STATION RENZI AND WIFE, AGNESE, WAITING TO ENTER ROOM RENZI'S WIFE ENTERING ROOM, RENZI WAITING OUTSIDE RENZI ENTERING ROOM, WAITING TO VOTE / RENZI TAKING BALLOT AND WALKING TOWARDS BOOTH JOURNALISTS RENZI LEAVING BOOTH / RENZI'S WIFE PLACING BALLOT IN BOX / RENZI PLACING BALLOT IN BOX AND LEAVING ROOM RENZI LEAVING POLLING STATION WITH FAMILY AND SHAKING HANDS WITH PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE
  • Embargoed: 19th December 2016 11:02
  • Keywords: Italy Referendum Constitution Prime Minister Matteo Renzi Agnese Landini Florence
  • Location: FLORENCE, ITALY
  • City: FLORENCE, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015BGWJT3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi arrived at his polling station near Florence on Sunday (December 4) morning to vote in a referendum on constitutional reform.
    Renzi walked to the polling station with his family before casting his ballot at a local school in his hometown of Pontassieve, on the outskirts of Florence.
    About 51 million Italians are eligible to vote on Renzi's plan to drastically reduce the role of the upper house Senate and claw back powers from regional authorities.
    Financial markets and Europe's politicians fear victory for the opposition 'No' camp could trigger political instability and renewed turmoil for Italy's battered banks, pushing the euro zone towards a fresh crisis.
    With all the opposition parties lined up against the reform, a victory for Renzi would be a surprise and represent an enormous personal triumph for Italy's youngest prime minister who often appeared to be fighting the campaign single-handed.
    With bookmakers' odds suggesting a roughly 75 percent chance of a win for 'No', speculation is rife on what Renzi will do in the event of defeat.
    He is widely expected to resign and has said he will play no role in any unelected, "technical" government, which President Sergio Mattarella may try to put in place.
    Some of his allies have urged him to stay in power regardless of the result.
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