Premier Matteo Renzi said
Friday that he was not concerned by threats to boycott voting in
the Lower House by opposition politicians angry with his
government's Constitutional reform bill.
And in a post on his Twitter feed late in the day, he
pledged to hold a referendum that will ultimately decide the
fate of reforms to streamline lawmaking by scrapping the Senate.
"The reform will be put to a referendum. We'll see if
people are with us or with the 'No' committee led by (opposition
legislators) Brunetta, Salvini and Grillo," Renzi tweeted.
Earlier, he dismissed walkouts and other threats from the
opposition legislators.
"If the threat is that you'll vote for them (the reforms)
alone, that's their problem," Renzi told legislators from his
centre-left Democratic Party (PD) after tension in the Lower
House triggered scuffles earlier among some parliamentarians.
"If obstructionism blocks the right of the ruling majority
to pass reforms, it's the end," added Renzi, who met his PD
caucus late Friday evening.
The premier, who took office only one year ago, said he
would not be bullied by ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi with whom
he had had a deal on reforms including changes to the country's
discredited election law.
But that deal recently crumbled amid anger over Renzi's
support for new Italian president Sergio Mattarella whose
nomination was opposed by Berlusconi, leader of the centre-right
Forza Italia (FI).
"I didn't let myself be blackmailed by Berlusconi over the
election of the new president and I won't let (M5S leader Beppe)
Grillo blackmail me over the reforms," added a defiant Renzi.
"I don't let anyone blackmail me or take me for a ride".
FI Whip Renato Brunetta was equally dramatic.
"For the love of God, think again," Brunetta exclaimed
during debate on the Constitution reforms.
Several opposition parties walked out for a time on Friday
to register their protest.
Renzi accused opposition parties of being more interested
in halting his executive than in improving Italy.
"The opposition's design is not to improve Italy, but to
slow and block us," Renzi said.
"We sought mediation everywhere. Now we're at a
crossroads".
The controversial bill, which includes a transformation of
the Upper House into a leaner assembly of local-government
representatives with limited lawmaking powers to make passing
legislation easier, is bitterly contested by many.
The House began non-stop 'river' sessions which limit MPs'
ability to file amendments as a way to combat obstructionist
tactics used by opponents to the reform.
This further soured the already tense climate and at one
stage, MPs for Renzi's PD and members of the opposition Left,
Ecology and Freedom (SEL) group stood on the benches and squared
off.
After the incident, two SEL MPs, Gianni Melilla and
Donatella Duranti, sought treatment for minor injuries.
PD House whip Roberto Speranza said the governing majority
was ready to press on.
"If it's a choice between voting on the reforms alone or
blocking the legislation, I think it's better to vote alone," he
said.
"But we'll do everything to stop that happening".
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