Italian referendum, regional vote make early election unlikely

FILE PHOTO: Montecitorio Palace, the lower House of Parliament, is pictured as Italians are called to vote on a referendum to sanction a proposed cut in the number of parliamentarians, in Rome, Italy, September 21, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

ROME (Reuters) - Italian lawmakers cheered a crushing referendum victory that will cut their numbers - safe in the knowledge that their parliamentary life will probably be extended by the reform.

This week about 70% of Italians backed slashing the number of parliamentary seats to 600 from 945, in a reform championed by the co-ruling anti-establishment 5-Star Movement.