ROME – Romano Prodi, twice ex-Prime Minister of Italy, says, “I feel it is my duty to make my ‘Yes’ vote public,” doing so “in the hope that this will be beneficial to the strengthening of our democratic rules, especially through the reform of the electoral law.”

 The founder of ‘l’Ulivo’ political centre-left party said of the referendum on Sunday, “Although the proposed reforms do not have the necessary depth and clarity, due to my personal story and the possible external consequences I feel it is my duty to make my ‘Yes’ vote public.”

 The former President of the European Union Commission said, “It is a ‘Yes’ which is naturally respectful of those who make a different choice (…) Up to now I have had deep rooted reasons why not to make my referendum vote public. For many years I have not taken a position on issues relating to Italian politics,” as Prodi believes that the attention surrounding the referendum, “from the beginning, has abandoned the fundamental issue, namely a modest constitutional reform, to become a ‘for or against’ the government.”

 Matteo Renzi, current Italian Prime Minister, thanked Prodi for “realising that this is a necessity for our country.”

 In a further referendum battle, Renzi went head to head with Silvio Berlusconi in a televised debate. The young Prime Minister said, “Many ‘No’ friends appear held together more by hatred towards a particular person than anything else,” whilst the Forza Italia leader retaliated, “If ‘Yes’ wins it would be better to leave the country,” claiming that there would be a dramatic lack of democracy left in Italy.

 Renzi, who has vowed to step down as Prime Minister if he loses on Sunday, assured, “If we win, we will have a tremendous power to change Europe.”

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