무능•부패정치에 신물난 이탈리아 국민, 의원수 3분의 1 줄였다<br /><br />A majority of Italians have voted in favor of a referendum to cut the size of the country's parliament.<br />The move is expected to bring some relief to the country with 1-point-56 lawmakers per 100-thousand people,... which is far above the OECD average of zero-point-97 lawmakers.<br />For more on this and other news around the world, let's turn to our Kim Jae-hee.<br />Jae-hee, tell us more about this reform.<br />Mok-yeon, this is undoubtedly an astonishing breakthrough in a country that has already seen seven failed attempts to reduce the number of lawmakers since 1983.<br />A two-day nationwide vote closed on Monday resulting in around 70 percent of Italians voting in favor of slashing the size of the parliament.<br />The number of senators will be reduced from 3-hundred-15 to two hundred, and lower house representatives will be cut from 6-hundred-30 to four hundred.<br />The referendum to downsize the parliament was backed by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, part of the governing coalition that claimed the move would substantially reduce costs.<br />The change had already been passed in parliament, but needed to be backed by a referendum, because it amends the country's constitution.<br />Italy's Foreign Minister welcomed the result, describing it as "historic", but critics argue the reduction will only weaken the parliament's authority.<br />
