View from Rome: A harsh wake-up call [The EU Referendum, 23 June 2016. The United Kingdom and the European Union. The results. Reaction in Italy]

Brexit came as a surprise to Italy. During the 23 June 2016 most observers and politicians were taking Bremain for granted. The results were a sharp wake-up call for Italy, and the rest of Europe.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi immediately called a summit at Palazzo Chigi to examine the implications of the vote. He consulted with President François Hollande and Chancellor Angela Merkel before delivering a clear call via social media for a stronger and more integrated Europe, though a different one. 'We need to make changes in order to have a more human and just Europe', he said. 'Europe is our home and our future'.

Meanwhile Matteo Salvini, leader of the Northern League (Lega Nord), an anti-Europe and anti-immigration party, welcomed the victory of the Leave campaign as did some members of the Five Star Movement. However, M5S publicly backed the country's membership of the EU for the first time on the 23 June 2016, bringing an end to years of anti-European rhetoric.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: The EU Referendum, 23 June 2016. The United Kingdom and the European Union. The results http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eu-referendum-23-june-2016-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union-the-results/

ESO: Background information: The EU Referendum, 23 June 2016. The United Kingdom and the European Union. The results. Reaction in the EU Institutions and other EU Member States http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eu-referendum-23-june-2016-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union-the-results-reaction-in-the-eu-institutions-and-other-eu-member-states/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

The Local.it, 24.06.16: Italians in the UK: 'After all these years, we feel unwanted' http://www.thelocal.it/20160624/italians-in-uk-after-all-these-years-we-feel-unwanted

The Local.it, 24.06.16: Where does Britain's exit from the EU leave Italy? http://www.thelocal.it/20160624/where-does-the-britains-exit-from-the-eu-leaves-italy

The Local.it, 24.06.16: Europe needs renovating after Brexit: Renzi http://www.thelocal.it/20160624/europe-needs-renovating-after-brexit-renzi

FT, 26.06.16: [Opinion]: Italy may be the next domino to fall http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/009468b0-3b89-11e6-8716-a4a71e8140b0.html

ESO: Background information: Brexit and Europe's new insurgent parties http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-world-according-to-europes-insurgent-parties-putin-migration-and-people-power-which-country-is-next-after-the-uk/

ESO: Background information: Euroskepticism Beyond Brexit http://www.europeansources.info/record/euroskepticism-beyond-brexit/

Italy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation: UK Embassy: News, 24.06.16: Italian Prime Minister's reaction to the EU Referendum http://www.amblondra.esteri.it/ambasciata_londra/en/ambasciata/ufficio-stampa/news/2016/06/italian-prime-minister-s-reaction.html

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