Italy to begin anew post-referendum, either way - Renzi

(ANSA) - Rome, December 2 - 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'."