"Unfortunately, Renzi himself personalized this referendum," said Matteo Cazzulani. "Therefore, the plebiscite was actually "for" or "against" the Prime Minister. The result of such personalization was consolidation of the right - and left-wing radical populists in the coalition against him. And actually, they won," explains the expert.

"Renzi was the most pro-Western politician in Italy," says Cazzulani. - But I would like to remind that Italy is not Pro-Western country."

According to the expert, there is a serious risk that parliamentary elections may bring to power a populist government headed by the party "5 Star Movement" and anti-migrants party the "Northern League". In addition, representatives of these political forces are pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian.

Matteo Cazzulani reminded that the leader of the "Northern League" Matteo Salvini had recently traveled to Moscow, where he had met with Aleksandr Dugin, and even had been captured by Moscow police for unfolding a poster with the appeal to vote "NO" on Sunday's Italian referendum.

Besides, the "Northern League" supports the annexation of Crimea, and Salvini also visited the occupied peninsula.

“To say that this development is undesirable, either for Ukraine or for the EU, is to say nothing,” - stressed the expert.

President Sergio Mattarella asked Renzi to remain in office until approval of the budget. According to Matteo Cazzulani and other experts, despite the demands of populists to hold the electon race in the nearest future, the President will appoint a new Cabinet headed by the Finance Minister of the current government Pierre Carlo Padoan and parliamentary elections will be held as planned in spring 2018.

The full version of the article can be found here (in Ukrainian)