The outcome of Italy’s constitutional referendum on 4 December, with voters rejecting the reform package backed by the government, triggered the announcement of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s resignation and sent shockwaves through the Italian political system. As Italy and Europe mull over what comes next, there is a need to unpack the factors that led to this outcome and to explore the potential implications at national and European level. The EPC Elections Monitor event covered urgent questions of possible political scenarios in Italy and how they will affect European politics in the short to medium term. Panellists also discussed the possible risks with a view to forthcoming elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany and the threat of a growing populist movement across Europe.

Speakers included: Giovanni Grevi, senior fellow of the European Policy Centre (EPC), Adriana Cerretelli, Italian journalist and Europe and International Affairs Columnist at Il Sole24Ore, Janis A. Emmanouilidis, Director of Studies at EPC