REFERENDUM IN ITALY 25th-26th of june 2006

by Martin Penner .(ANSA) - Rome, June 23 - Italians go to the polls on Sunday and Monday to decide whether to confirm a raft of constitutional reforms approved by Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition before it lost spring elections .The reforms are far-reaching, radically redesigning parliament and the legislative process as well as increasing the powers of the premier at the expense of the president. They also attribute more powers to Italy's regions .The ruling centre left has campaigned strenuously for a No vote, arguing among other things that the two blocs can talk about constitutional changes after clearing the table of what it sees as a damaging reform .The centre right argues that this is a crucial opportunity to update the 1948 constitution and predicts that all hope of reforming it in the near future will disappear if their package is rejected .Berlusconi made it clear how important he sees the result by saying earlier this week that anyone who did not vote Yes would be "unworthy" to be called Italian .Prodi, who has accused Berlusconi of wanting to "ruin the constitution", was scheduled to speak to No campaigners at a final rally in Bologna on Friday evening .In a bid to reassure Italians who are keen on reducing the number of parliamentarians - the centre right reform would cut the present total of 945 by 193 - Prodi has promised to work for an even greater cut if the No campaign wins .The outcome of the referendum has extra importance for the small Northern League party, which allied itself with Berlusconi's centre right mainly in order to push through its devolution agenda .A crucial part of the constitutional reform approved last November devolves greater powers to Italy's 20 regions in the areas of health, education and local policing .Other measures important to the League transform the Senate into a federal rather than a national legislative body and reshape the Constitutional Court so regional interests are represented .League leader Umberto Bossi said on Thursday that the party would "open new fronts" in its battle for devolution if the country voted down the reform package ."We won't use guns but I fear the worst. There are a lot of people around who are running out of patience and are starting to become dangerous," he said, drawing a condemnations from the centre left .The party has also indicated it will reconsider its alliance with Berlusconi if the vote goes against it. The withdrawal of the Northern League's support would be serious blow to the former premier .Meanwhile, former president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi was under fire from Berlusconi's allies on Friday for explaining in a newspaper interview why he intended to vote against the reforms .The centre-left argues that the reforms would undermine the state by upsetting the institutional balance created by the architects of the constitution after World War II. It also says the devolution part will damage poor southern regions .Berlusconi's allies counter that the premier needs to have more powers in order to govern effectively. They also say that having two houses of parliament with equal powers makes for inefficient political responses to the nation's problems .According to political observers, the timing of the referendum could favour the centre left. Its voters are traditionally more assiduous about taking part in polls, a tendency which the hot 'beach' weather could amplify .Many Italians are also a little 'vote-weary' after general elections in April, followed by local elections and, in many cases, run-off votes two weeks later .Polling starts at 8am on Sunday and ends at 3pm on Monday. The outcome of the vote will be valid regardless of the turnout since quorums are not applicable in a constitutional referendum .(www.ansa.it)