ROME - Italians looked set to ban nuclear energy for decades on Monday in a referendum that was strongly influenced by the Fukushima disaster but was also a resounding political vote against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Official figures showed turnout easily exceeding the 50 percent quorum needed to validate four referendums, including one on a ban on nuclear power.
Supporters of the proposals were considered far more likely to vote than opponents and early results showed well over 90 percent of votes cast were in favor of the ban.
The referendum abrogates a law passed last year restarting Italy's nuclear program, which had previously been halted in 1987 by another referendum following the Chernobyl disaster.
