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Sandro Gozi has warned Italy now faces a severe period of unrest and uncertainty after Prime Minister Matteo Renzi lost a referendum on proposed constitutional changes.

Mr Gozi, a close ally of Mr Renzi, who has announced his resignation as promised following the vote, said Brexit and now the Italy vote had dramatically weakened the EU.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think that the beginning of European disintegration has started with Brexit.

“It is up to the other 27 governments to relaunch Europe.

“That was our policy, that was our goal as the Renzi government.