Italy's Renzi defeated in pivotal referendum, exit polls suggest
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has lost a referendum on constitutional reform by a wide margin, exit polls showed on Sunday, throwing his future into doubt and opening the door to renewed political instability in Italy.
Renzi, who had promised to resign if his flagship project was defeated, is due to address the nation at around midnight (2300 GMT), government sources said.
An exit poll by the Piepoli Institute/IPR for state television station RAI, estimated the 'No' vote at 54-58 percent against 42-46 percent for 'Yes'. Two other polls gave 'No' a similar lead of at least 10 points. Voting ended at 11 p.m.
The euro immediately fell against the dollar on the exit polls, slipping to $1.0580 from $1.0625.
If confirmed, the result would represent a fresh blow to the European Union which is struggling to overcome an array of crises and was eager for Renzi to continue his reform drive in the euro zone's heavily indebted, third-largest economy.
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After voting in Genoa earlier on Sunday, Beppe Grillo, founder of the anti-euro 5-star Movement which backs a 'No' vote, said the country needed to go to new elections as soon as possible. His party is running neck-and-neck with Renzi's Democratic Party (PD) in the opinion polls.
http://www.france24.com/en/20161204-italys-renzi-defeated-pivotal-referendum-exit-polls-suggest