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Italian PM Matteo Renzi resigns after referendum defeat

The Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has said he will resign on Wednesday evening following approval of the 2017 national budget.

He offered his resignation following defeat in Sunday's referendum on legislative changes.

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Five Star Movement calls for early Italian elections

Alessandro Di Battista of the Five Star Movement. Credit: Reuters

The movement that spearheaded the winning "no" campaign in Italy's referendum has called for early elections to replace Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who has said he will resign following the vote.

Leaders of the populist Five Star Movement, the main rivals to Renzi's Democrats, are anxious to achieve national power for the first time.

Alessandro Di Battista, an MP for the movement, said: "The Five Star Movement isn't the only one who won, it was a battle of most Italian citizens who rejected a constitutional reform that deprived the Italian people of the umpteen rights."

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