Voters Curb Powers of Federal Government
Italians voted to overhaul the country’s constitution, handing greater autonomy and financial muscle to its regions, final results from a weekend referendum show.
Sunday’s referendum means the central government’s powers will now be limited to foreign affairs, defense, public order, justice, electoral legislation, the environment and some education matters.
Italy’s 20 regions will have responsibility for all other administrative duties, giving them more power to raise taxes and decide how central government cash should be spent.
Italy has been a unified state only since 1870, and many Italians feel stronger allegiance to a town or region than to their country.
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