Italy referendum: PM Matteo Renzi resigns after clear defeat

Chidi Samuel with agency reports

Matteo Renzi, the young Italian Prime Minister  has resigned after suffering a resounding defeat in a referendum over his plan to reform the constitution. The referendum for most of the voters was a referendum on the performance of the prime minister.

The turnout was about 70% and with almost all the votes counted, the No votes leads with 60%.

In a late-night news conference, he said he took responsibility for the outcome, and said the No camp must now make clear proposals to move Italy forward.

“Good luck to us all,” Mr Renzi told reporters. He said he would tell a cabinet meeting on Monday afternoon that he was resigning, then tender his resignation to the Italian president.

So far European leaders have been slow to react to the outcome of the Italian vote and the resignation of Mr Renzi.