President Sergio Mattarella
stressed Wednesday that sovereignty belongs to the people amid
controversy about the United States ambassador to Rome saying a
No vote in the referendum on the government's institutional
overhaul would be a step back for investments in Italy.
"Every event in an important country, and Italy is an
important country, attracts attention abroad," the president
said when asked about the row.
"Naturally this does not change the fact that sovereignty
derives from the voters".
Opponents to the reform accused U.S. Ambassador John
Phillips of meddling in Italy's domestic affairs with comments
he made on Tuesday.
Phillips said that, while "the referendum is an Italian
decision", the country must also "guarantee political
stability".
The reform amends the Italian Constitution and, among other
things, turns the Senate into a leaner assembly of local
government representatives with limited powers.
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