Italian PM Renzi under pressure as pollsters point to referendum defeat

The final opinion polls in Italy ahead of next month's crucial referendum on constitutional changes do not bode well for prime minister Matteo Renzi, with all major surveys pointing towards defeat for the proposals.

Renzi has promised to quit if his party's proposals are rejected by voters, and the results of the polls also suggest that Donald Trump's surprise victory in the US presidential election last week has pushed the population towards an anti-establishment "no" vote.

A poll blackout will come into force on Saturday, just over two weeks before the referendum takes place.

About 42% of those who said they will vote are going to reject the referendum proposal of reducing the powers of the Senate and handing more power to the central government.

The "Yes" vote remains unchanged at 37%, suggesting that undecided voters are moving towards the idea of rejecting the referendum proposal rather than embracing it.

"There's a clear acceleration for 'No' and the Trump factor seems to have tipped the balance among many who were undecided," said Roberto Weber, head of the Ixe agency.

Trump's win was the latest and perhaps most significant strike for right-wing populist movements in Western states, and with the Italian economy having shrunk by over 10% since 2007, the referendum could be the latest shock to the established parties in the European Union.