In a late-night news conference, he said he took responsibility for the outcome. He said the No camp must now make clear proposals.An exit poll for state broadcaster RAI suggests 42-46% voted to back reform, compared with 54-58% voting No.The first projections based on the official count point to a wider defeat.Early indications have the Yes vote at 39-43% and the No at 57-61%.
The No vote was supported by populist parties, and the referendum was regarded as a barometer of anti-establishment sentiment in Europe.The populist Five Star Movement says it is getting ready to govern Italy now that Mr Renzi is resigning. "Starting tomorrow we'll be at work on a Five Star government," one of its leaders, Luigi Di Maio, said.The movement, led by comedian Beppe Grillo, spearheaded the winning No campaign.Opposition leader Matteo Salvini, of the anti-immigrant Northern League, called the referendum a "victory of the people against the strong powers of three-quarters of the world".
After a tumultuous night in Italy, Matteo Renzi will on Monday head to the Quirinal palace to submit his resignation to president Sergio Mattarella.It is 14 months until the next elections are due, and it’s expected that Mattarella will attempt to pull together a caretaker prime minister – likely from from Renzi’s Democratic party – to serve until the February 2018 vote.The populist Five Star Movement and the anti-immigrant Northern League want early elections – but have no power to make that happen.
oh boy
