Lower House MPs from the
governing centre-left Democratic Party (PD) gave PD Premier
Matteo Renzi a standing ovation Tuesday after his 45-minute
address in which he laid out his 1,000-day reform program and
his vision of what it will do for Italy.
On the center-right opposition side, MPs from the
separatist, anti-immigrant Northern League protested by waving
flags from the northern Veneto region and signs reading
"Veneto's future in the hands of Veneto's people".
Opposition MPs from the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement
(M5S) accused Renzi of "luring parliament with the umpteenth fib
about the 1,000 days".
"We don't need 1,000 days. All Renzi needs to pack his bags
is one day," M5S leader Beppe Grillo wrote on his blog.
The Left Ecology and Freedom (SEL) party, which sometimes
enters into strategic alliances with the larger PD, said "we
claim our right to disagree with these reforms".
The House whip for the center-right Forza Italia (FI) party
of ex premier Silvio Berlusconi said Renzi's speech was just so
much "hot air".
"It would have been more honest to admit he hasn't made
it," said Renato Brunetta citing dismal economic data including
rising public debt, taxes, and unemployment.
Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, who is from the PD's
center-right ally, the New Center Right party (NCD), praised the
"brave, reformist" premier while Stefano Fassina from within the
premier's own party blasted Renzi on Facebook, saying he "wields
right-wing language to describe labour reform".
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