BERLIN, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday expressed disappointment over the defeat of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in a referendum on constitutional reform in Italy.
"I am sad that the referendum in Italy did not go the way the prime minister wanted it," Merkel said in German city of Essen before the start of the national party convention of Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
The vote was respected as an inner-Italian matter, said the chancellor, also the CDU chairman, adding that she always worked very well with Renzi.
According to estimates, almost 60 percent of Italian voters on Sunday rejected the constitutional reform suggested by Renzi.
German government spokesman Steffen Seibert earlier on Monday said Merkel had received the news of Renzi's resignation announcement "with regret."
Renzi's proposed constitutional referendum was seen as a key test of popularity for his center-left government.
