RantCrush Top 5: December 5, 2016

2016: the year of unexpected and dramatic political changes. Yesterday, Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resigned after the Italian people rejected his proposed constitutional changes in a referendum. The changes would have modernized and sped up the government’s decision-making process, but many saw it as a way to give Renzi more power.

While the vote didn’t directly affect Italy’s position in the EU, it could lead to the rise of groups like the Five Star Movement, which supported the “No” vote and has indicated that it could be interested in an “Italexit.” This would have big implications for the rest of Europe, as Italy’s economy is very important.

Obviously #italyreferendum is so much to do with anti-establishment sentiment sweeping the West, but not all about right-wing populism

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) December 4, 2016

But on the same day, Austrian voters rejected the country’s far-right party and elected liberal leftie Alexander Van der Bellen, who is an advocate of tolerance and moderation and is pro-EU. So at least that’s an indication that even though the EU may need some reworking, it might not be necessary to drop out just yet.

First good day post-Trump election:Nationalist Right candidate defeated in Austria & #NoDAPL win-Pipeline stopped by power of the people/

— Katrina vandenHeuvel (@KatrinaNation) December 4, 2016

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.