Italy to Hold 2018 Elections Regardless of Constitution Referendum Outcome - PM

The general elections in Italy will be held in 2018, whatever the outcome of the referendum on constitutional reform expected to take place later this year, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The popular vote which is anticipated to be held by the end of the year, although its date has not yet been announced, aims to introduce a constitutional change that will give the lower and the upper house of the Italian parliament equal powers. Renzi advocates for the 'yes' vote.

"Whatever happens at the referendum, we will be voting in 2018," Renzi said late Sunday, as quoted by the Quotidiano newspaper.

He added that in case of a 'no' vote victory, he would resign.

Last general elections in Italy were held in February 2013. Under the current Italian Constitution, voters elect 630 members of the Chamber of Deputies and 315 members of the Senate of the Republic. The constitutional reform to be decided upon in the referendum would see the Senate replaced in the 2018 elections with an indirectly elected body, which would be composed of 100 members, namely 95 selected from regional councils and 5 appointed by the country's President.

The constitutional reform has already been passed in the both parliamentary bodies, but requires an approval in the popular vote before it comes into force.