Premier Matteo Renzi on Friday
urged Italians to vote in Sunday's referendum on his
Constitutional reform and said the country would start over the
next day no matter which side wins.
"We are always complaining about a lack of democracy," he
said. "Now, let the best (choice) win and Italy will begin anew
the next day with a smile."
Renzi has staked his political credibility on pushing the
reform through and could quit if he loses the referendum on the
revamp of the country's political machinery, which includes the
controversial transformation of the Senate into a leaner
assembly of local-government representatives with limited powers
to cut costs and make passing legislation a faster process.
He added that "if we want to shake things up in this country,
it is now or never".
"There is no risk of turning into an authoritarian nation
either way," he said.
"On December 5, Italy will be a democracy and its fundamental
values have not been put into question."
However, he added, if the 'No' vote win, "politically no one
will touch this issue for decades. I think that this is a chance
that we should not let pass us by. I find it strange that
(ex-premier Silvio) Berlusconi and others who voted for this
reform in Parliament are now pushing for a 'No'."
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