News / EU

Italy’s Renzi admits politicized referendum led to loss

Sunday, 18 December 2016 5:54 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 18 December 2016 5:54 PM ]

Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (AFP Photo)

Italy’s former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has admitted that his policy of politicizing a recent referendum on constitutional reform was a big mistake.

“We lost, we ultra-lost. We lost among young people, particularly the 30- to 40-year-olds. We lost at home and that hurts,” said Renzi on Sunday while addressing lawmakers from his center-left Democratic Party (PD).

The 41-year-old, who stepped down after Italians overwhelmingly rejected his package of reforms in the December 4 ballot, admitted that his gamble on the results of the votes was a great mistake.

“I made the mistake of politicizing the referendum: I didn't see it happening and I was wrong,” said Renzi, adding, "We dedicated too much attention to slide shows and not to the pain of those who were saying that things weren't going well.”

During the speech to PD delegates, Renzi also urged party leaders to be more humble and in sync with citizens, saying the democrats should show more “empathy” for people's economic miseries.

“Our efficiency has been superior to our empathy,” Renzi said in an uncharacteristically humble address.

Observers say the public rejection of Renzi’s reforms, which was a centerpiece of his nearly three-year-long government, was the economic malaise the country has been grappling with over the past years.

Paolo Gentiloni, Italy’s foreign minister under Renzi and current prime minister, had his new government endorsed on Wednesday. He is expected to steer Italy to elections in 2018 although PD and opposition parties are pushing for the quick reform of a disputed electoral law so the vote could take place to a year early. Italy's president should decide if an early election is needed.

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