German Chancellor Angela Merkel "supports" Italian Premier Matteo Renzi's reforms but it is not up to the German government to comment on the winter referendum on his institutional revamp after the US ambassador in Rome came out Tuesday against a No vote, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said Wednesday. "Obviously it is not up to the German government to express itself on referendum that take place in other countries," Seibert said, but Merkel "supports" Renzi "in his various activities in domestic politics" and "the reforms the premier has launched, for example to the labour market". Seibert was answering a question on US Ambassador John Phillips's statement that foreign investments in Italy would take a "step backwards" if the No vote wins in the referendum which aims to simplify Italy's political machinery. The reform amends the Constitution and, among other things, turns the Senate into a leaner assembly of local government representatives with limited powers. It is aimed at saving money and making it easier to pass legislation.
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