United States President Barack
Obama threw his hat in the ring Tuesday in favor of a 'Yes' vote
in a December 4 referendum on Premier Matteo Renzi's
constitutional reform law.
A 'Yes' victory could help Italy, Obama told reporters at a
press conference after meeting with Renzi at the White House.
The American president added he is "rooting for" Renzi, and
said Italy's young reformist premier should remain in politics
no matter what the outcome of the referendum.
The two leaders heaped praise upon one another, with Obama
hailing Renzi's leadership qualities and Renzi calling the U.S.
a model of economic growth policies.
"Matteo represents a new generation of leaders not only in
Italy but in the EU and the world," said Obama, warning that if
Europe fails to shift away from austerity towards more expansive
economic policies its fragility will return with negative
impacts on the U.S. and the globe.
"The US are a model and I think Europe can and must do
more," Renzi said. "Italy considers the American example as a
point of reference in the battle (against austerity)".
"If we win the December referendum it will be easier for
Italy to carry on the battle to change the EU," he explained.
"If we win... things will be more simple for Italy, and the
battle to change Europe will be easier," Renzi said. "We respect
European rules, albeit a bit unwillingly at times - we would
like them to be different, but we will respect them until they
change".
"I don't think there will be any cataclysms if the 'No'
vote wins," he added.
Obama chimed in, saying "Matteo is right" in stating Italy
has kept its word in the EU and carried out structural reforms
as requested, and now Europe must do its part to stoke growth
and create jobs faster than it is at present.
On the international front, Obama thanked Italy for its
"key role" in the international coalition to fight the so-called
Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group and for its diplomacy in
Libya.
The American president also said "our thoughts are with"
the stricken population of the town of Amatrice, which was razed
to the ground by a devastating August 24 earthquake in central
Italy that claimed 298 lives, left thousands homeless, and
caused billions in damage.
Italy is haggling with the EU for flexibility on its 2017
budget due to exceptional spending on quake relief and
reconstruction as well as the cost of asylum seeker rescue,
identification, processing, and hosting.
Obama hailed Italy for saving "hundreds of thousands of
lives" in the Mediterranean, where its southernmost islands are
the first landfall for asylum seekers fleeing war and
persecution in Africa and the Middle East.
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