A dissenting leftwing minority
within the ruling Democratic Party (PD) of Premier Matteo Renzi
said Tuesday it will continue to fight the government's
electoral reform bill when it returns to parliament.
Nicknamed the Italicum, the bill is the result of a deal
between Renzi and former center-right premier Silvio Berlusconi,
a fact which has produced discomfort within the ranks of both
leaders' parties since it was first announced early in 2014.
And while the government has repeatedly said it would only
call for a confidence vote as a last resort, many in the
premier's party are bristling in the belief it intends to do
just that in a bid to quash dissent rather than amend its bill.
Putting the Italicum to a confidence vote "would be
totally wrong", MP Nico Stumpo from the PD dissenters' caucus
said ahead of the group's meeting with the premier on Wednesday.
"I know I won't vote for the Italicum (as it stands)," said
leading PD rebel Pippo Civati.
"I know if they call for a confidence vote three times, I
will refuse it three times...everyone will lose, including those
who are certain of victory at all costs," Civati wrote on his
Facebook page.
Dissenting PD MPs who sit on the Lower House constitutional
affairs committee said earlier in the day they will ask to be
replaced so they won't have to go against their caucus when they
vote.
Also in the opposition on this issue is the small leftwing
Left Ecology Freedom (SEL) party, which sometimes runs local
candidates on shared tickets with the PD.
"I fear Renzi has been adding up the bill without the
innkeeper," said SEL Lower House whip Arturo Scotto.
"Clearly the premier risks not having the numbers to
approve his Italicum. He should realize this and talk to
parliament".
"The electoral law should have neither godfathers nor
masters," Scotto said.
The Italicum would, among other provisions, award bonus
seats to the party that garners at least 40% of the vote to
ensure it has a working majority in parliament.
A run-off round of voting will take place to decide who
gets the bonus seats if no party crosses the 40% threshold.
Italy's current dysfunctional electoral law - the
so-called pigsty law - has been struck down by the
Constitutional Court, and has been blamed for contributing to
the inconclusive outcome to the 2013 general election.
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