Posted on 12/03/2016 7:09:47 PM PST by Mariner
Rome (AFP) - Media silence was imposed across Italy Saturday on the eve of a constitutional referendum crucial for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who has staked his future on the government reforms.
In the frantic final round of campaigning which ended on Friday, Renzi's rivals vowed to defeat referendum proposals to streamline parliament and force the centre-left leader out of office.
The 41-year-old premier is hoping for a last-minute turnaround in voter sentiment, having pledged to quit in the event of a "No".
While all media comment on the referendum is now banned until polling ends at 11:00 pm (2200 GMT) on Sunday, the campaign continued on social media.
But #silenzioelettorale (electoral silence) was the among Twitter's top-trending topics as Italian web users rejoiced at the end of a highly-charged campaign.
Politically and economically, the stakes are high.
After Britain's vote to leave the European Union and Donald Trump's presidential triumph in the United States, Renzi is being portrayed as next in line to suffer a populist backlash from fed-up and forgotten voters.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
We'll know that because it will fail.
Is that a wave on the horizon?
And Hofer will win in Austria tomorrow too.
Vote no!
It will be just like the brexit vote.
They’ll ignore it until they can’t deny it any longer.
My family in Italy will vote NO and for Grillo. Grillo loves Trump.
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