Referendum Wins Tuscany, Loses Italy

The December 4 referendum which would have redesigned the Italian Senate obtained the approval of 52% of the Tuscan voters, with a clearer victory in Florence (58%), while losing in Italy with 59% of the vote.  The referendum also obtained a majority of votes in Siena and Prate. while coming out even in Livorno, while receiving a thumbs down in Massa Carrara, Lucca and Grosseto.

Nearly 70% of  registered voters expressed their opinion at the polls in Tuscany, which was one of the few regions, in the company of Emilia Romagna, the autonomous region of Bolzano and Italians residing abroad — where the proposal to change the Italian Constitution obtained a majority.

Tuscan governor Enrico Rossi has called for a change of leadership of the Democratic Party, which Renzi heads.

Prime Minister Renzi, the former mayor of Florence has resigned, and it is speculated that Minister of the Economy Pier Carlo Padoan or Pietro Grasso, president of the Senate, may be his successor in a non-partisan “technical” government.  To read more in Italian, visit Florence’s La Repubblica new site.