ROME - The great Italian national pastime of the referendum takes centre stage tomorrow when 49.5 million citizens can vote on a wide range of issues including state privatisations, magistrates' career structures, the right to walk on private land while hunting and the qualifications necessary for a career in journalism, writes Paddy Agnew
Since 1970, the referendum has been a critical factor in Italian life, with decisive votes in favour of divorce (1974), of abortion (1981) and against nuclear-powered electricity (1987) all reshaping Italian society, often in the face of resistance from the political classes.
Prominent people such as journalist Indro Montanelli and publications such as the Democratic Left (PDS) paper L'Unita have called on voters to stay away from the ballot box, arguing that the electorate is being asked to vote on detailed technical questions that are simply beyond the average citizen's knowledge and experience.