Referendum result 'totally open' (2)

(ANSA) - Palermo, December 2 - Premier Matteo Renzi told a Yes rally ahead of Sunday's Constitutional referendum in Palermo Friday that "the result of the referendum is totally open, it'll be settled by a handful of votes". Renzi's government may fall if the No vote wins the referendum on his executive's changes to the Constitution to overhaul Italy's political machinery.
    The government says the reform will end gridlock and make passing legislation cheaper by, among other things, turning the Senate into a leaner, regionally based based body with fewer lawmaking powers.
    Opponents say the reform would leave too much power in the hands of the executive.
    Almost all of the opposition and some rebel members of Renzi's own centre-left Democratic Party (PD) are backing the No camp, which was ahead in the polls before a pre-election ban on their publication kicked in.
    Northern League leader Matteo Salvini said Friday that "despite the votes invented or bought around the world by Renzi, the Italians' vote will make the No vote win". "I think all hell happened in the consulates and embassies," he said. But people all around the country would vote No, so Salvini said he was "not worried".