Italians vote on nuclear, water policies in national referendum

• Source: Xinhua
• [15:18 June 13 2011]
• Comments

Italians cast their votes on Sunday in referendums on nuclear and water policies.

According to local media reports, Italians have the right to vote on Sunday or Monday on any or all of four referendums -- two of which concern the government's plans to privatize public water supplies.

The referendum on nuclear energy will decide if the country will revive nuclear power plants. Italy shut down all nuclear power plants after a referendum in 1987.

The other referendum will decide if Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and other top officials will be allowed some protection from prosecution by a legislation.

More than 50 percent of the eligible votes will make a referendum valid. By 10 p.m. local time, both referendums for water supplies and nuclear power were beyond 41 percent of ballots.

Italy stopped its nuclear power plan in a 1987 referendum following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Berlusconi tried to recover nuclear power plants in a bid to trim dependence on expensive foreign oil and natural gas.