Reforms Aimed at Italian Stability Spawn Uncertainty

In a little more than a month, Italian voters will decide whether to approve constitutional reforms that would change the way the country is governed. The plebiscite on Dec. 4 will ask the public to approve a plan put forth by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's government to reduce the attributions of the Senate and grant additional powers to the lower chamber of parliament. But the reforms, intended to create more stable governments and sever the ties between political uncertainty and financial fragility in Italy, could actually create more instability. In recent days, the referendum itself has been beset by uncertainty -- including suggestions that the vote could be postponed and accusations of Russian meddling in the campaign....