Italy is voting Sunday on a constitutional referendum that could increase political stability or topple Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, triggering a government crisis with risky consequences.
The referendum is essentially about proposals to concentrate power in the government's hands, by curtailing veto rights of parliament and regions. Supporters say this would make Italy more stable, while critics see it as undemocratic.
The referendum is also a plebiscite on Renzi, because he has pledged to go if the reforms he has championed are rejected. With his popularity waning amid a sluggish economy and an enduring migration crisis, he faces a tough battle.
A 'no' victory, championed by all opposition parties, would likely be seen as another anti-establishment choice by Western voters, after Britain's Brexit referendum and Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential elections.
