Post-Mussolini, the Italian constitution makes it very difficult for such a dictatorial/authoritarian figure to rule Italy again. Which is understandable, however it's also meant that successive governments find it just as difficult to govern, it's why there has been so many elections/pacts etc over the years. The soon to be resigning Italian PM wanted a change to the constitution in order to give him and the governing party more power, in this case the means to deliver an austerity package. As is their way, voters took the opportunity to make a protest vote, but it wasn't a straight forward vote against the EU. Some would've voted No for constitutional reasons, some on the EU, and some on a general unhappiness with the sitting Gov and PM. Having a referendum mid-term wasn't the Italian PM's brightest idea. An interesting aside of the Austrian vote... Anton Mahdalik, a Freedom party member of the Vienna city council, criticised former Ukip leader Nigel Farage for contributing to the party?s defeat after claiming on Fox News that Hofer would hold a referendum on Austria leaving the EU. ?That didn?t help us, it hindered us,? he said, saying that an overwhelming majority of Austrians support EU membership. Hofer himself described Farage?s comments as a ?crass misjudgment?, adding that ?it doesn?t fill me with joy when someone meddles from outside?. Well done Nige!..:)