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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