The Italian Referendum Matters

Posted: December 2nd, 2016

By Sir Michael Leigh

Michael Leigh is a Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. He previously was a European Commission Director-General.

On December 4, Italians will vote on a far-ranging constitutional referendum, which promises to completely change the way that Italy’s political institutions operate. Proponents of the referendum, led by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, claim that a “Yes” vote is necessary to streamline Italy’s creaking parliamentary system and allow vital reforms to pass. However, the vote’s critics claim that the referendum threatens to dangerously undermine constitutional checks and balances. Meanwhile, after PM Renzi’s pledge to resign if the vote fails, Italy’s faltering banks and European markets will be watching with bated breath. The Cipher Brief asks Michael Leigh, Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund and a former European Commission Director-General, what the referendum’s outcome could mean for Italy’s future.

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The Italian Referendum Matters

By Sir Michael Leigh

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