Italians back cutting number of lawmakers in referendum - exit poll
ROME (Reuters) - Italians have voted in favour of cutting the number of lawmakers in the upper and lower houses of parliament to 600 from 945, an exit poll on the national referendum said on Monday.
The result, if confirmed, would be a fillip for the ruling 5-Star Movement, which has championed the reform, saying it would reduce costs and improve parliamentary efficiency.
The exit poll on state broadcaster RAI said 60-64% of people had approved the proposal against 36-40% who had rejected it. The definitive result will come later in the day.
The move to reduce the number of lawmakers to 400 from 630 in the lower house and to 200 from 315 in the upper house has already been approved by parliament and will come into force at the next national elections.
Assuming the exit poll is confirmed, parliament will now have to change the voting system before the election, due in 2023, can be held.
(Reporting by Crispian Balmer, editing by Gavin Jones)
