ITALY: Supporters of an Italian referendum calling for the liberalisation of restrictive legislation on assisted fertility treatment suffered an overwhelming defeat yesterday when the final count showed that only 25.9 per cent of voters, slightly more than half the legal quorum of 50 per cent plus one, had voted. The low turnout means that the referendum is rendered null and void.
Italians had been asked if they wished to repeal those clauses in the legislation which ban stem cell research, ban the use of egg and sperm donors, limit the availability of in-vitro services to sterile couples of child-bearing age, ban preventive diagnosis of the about-to-be implanted embryo and, perhaps most controversially, protect the "rights" of the embryo.
At first glance, the obvious winner of this atypical electoral contest is the Catholic Church which, led by Italian Cardinal Vicariate Camillo Ruini with the backing of Pope Benedict XVI, had called on Italians to abstain.
On reflection, too, the resounding defeat must prompt serious questions about the efficacy of the referendum instrument itself.
Last weekend's referendum was the fourth consecutive one since 1999 to fail to reach the legal quorum with a referendum two years ago on labour legislation and air pollution recording an even lower turnout (25.7 per cent) than this one.
While the key role of the church in defeating the referendum cannot be denied, there must also be strong suspicion that voter apathy due to referendum fatigue played its part.
In contrast, when Italians voted on divorce in 1974, 87 per cent of the electorate voted.
Commenting on the result yesterday, Cardinal Ruini denied that it had been a victory for himself.
"I didn't take this campaign on to win and I have not won. All I tried to do was my duty as a bishop, following my conscience both as a Christian and a good citizen."
In response to those who believe that the victory may prompt the church to initiate a campaign to repeal Italy's 1981 abortion legislation, Cardinal Ruini had reassuring words, saying: "I don't know who invented this little fairy tale that we will now move on law 194 [ on abortion]. We're against abortion but we have no desire to repeal the law."
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was among a number of senior institutional figures, including the speakers of both houses of parliament, who chose to abstain.
Commenting on the result yesterday, Mr Berlusconi said: "I didn't become involved in the referendum campaign and I remained silent so as not to divide the country on a question of conscience."
On a political level, the result may have serious implications for Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini who voted Yes, in contrast to the majority of his Alleanza Nazionale party followers. Mr Fini's autonomous line as party leader prompted his deputy leader, Agriculture Minister Gianni Alemanno, to resign his party post yesterday in protest.
Despite yesterday's defeat, key figures on the Yes side, including former EU Commissioner Emma Bonino and Democratic Left leader Piero Fassino, both promised to continue the battle in parliament to have the current legislation modified.