Italians will go to the polls on June 25 and 26 to decide whether to confirm constitutional reforms giving more power to regional governments. The date of the referendum was decided during a cabinet meeting on Thursday. The reforms, which boost regional powers in the areas of health, education and local policing, were passed by parliament in November.
But less than two thirds of MPs supported the legislation and so, under the Italian constitution, they must be put to a referendum.
The reforms also increase the powers of the premier while trimming those of the president; transform the Senate into a federal rather than a national legislative body; and reshapes the Constitutional Court so regional interests are represented.
The devolutionary reforms were the key condition set by the regionalist Northern League to maintain its support for the centre-right government of Silvio Berlusconi. Premier-elect Romano Prodi, leader of Italy's centre-left coalition, sparked polemics earlier this week by using a Liberation Day march in Milan as a platform to urge the nation to vote no at the referendum.
"I'm going to Milan to defend the constitution. This is why we must vote no in the referendum," he said.
