Italians vote on oil and gas as scandal ups pressure on Renzi

ROME: Italy votes in a referendum on oil and gas drilling concessions which brings to a peak a heated debate fraught with risk for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and fuelled by anger over a government corruption scandal.

Campaigning has pitted environmentalists against the government and big business.

Italians are to decide whether they want to repeal a law, passed in January, that says existing concessions within 12 miles (19 kilometres) of the coast should remain valid until the fields are depleted, infuriating campaigners for renewable energy.

Renzi’s centre-left Democratic Party (PD), keen to be seen as probusiness, has called on Italians not to vote in the hope the quorum will not be met - sparking a backlash from opposition parties and deepening a split within his own camp.

Under Italy’s referendum rules, the outcome of a popular vote is only valid if at least 50 per cent of the registered electorate cast ballots.

Environmentalists claim platforms near the shore present risks to health and protected habitats.

They insist a ‘Yes’ to reversing the law would send a clear signal the country wants to go green and put a stop to ‘dirty deals’ which benefit oil companies.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 11pm (0500 GMT to 0100 GMT), with nearly 47 million Italians eligible to vote.

“It’s a hoax referendum, they say it’s about renewable energy, but actually it would mean shutting down working rigs with the loss of 11,000 jobs,” Renzi said, with several leading political figures slamming him as a liar and criminal.

A recent scandal in Italy that saw a top minister resign over alleged favours to French oil giant Total has spread concerns the law was changed “as a present to oil companies” such as Italian giant Eni.

Nine regions asked for, and are affected by, the referendum, from the Basilicata, to Calabria, Sardinia and the Veneto - and nearly all of them are led by the PD, fuelling a bitter internal battle and bolstering attacks on Renzi’s leadership. — AFP

Italian Prime Minister Renzi gestures during a news conference in Naples, Italy. Italy votes in a referendum on oil and gas drilling concessions which brings to a peak a heated debate fraught with risk for Prime Minister Renzi and fuelled by anger over...