Senate Speaker Pietro Grasso said
Thursday he would ignore an abstention call from his Democratic
Party (PD) and vote in an April 17 referendum on allowing
offshore oil and gas drilling to continue in Italy. He said a
referendum was a "popular, democratic and constitutional tool".
Grasso said "I will certainly take part in the referendum".
Premier Matteo Renzi said earlier this week he hoped the
referendum fails. "The referendum does not talk about new
drilling but getting the gas and oil that's there out. If we
decide to say 'enough' do we go and buy from the Arabs and the
Russians? I'm for using what's there. I hope this referendum
that could block 11,000 jobs fails", he said. Renzi has
instructed the PD to ask voters to vote against the referendum
and allow the drilling concessions to continue until the oil and
gas run out. Environmental groups are concerned about the impact
the drilling id having on sea life and the sea bed.
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