Pippo Civati, a Democratic
Party (PD) member who challenged Premier Matteo Renzi in party
primaries 18 months ago, said Wednesday he is quitting the PD.
"Out of coherence with my beliefs and my voters' mandate, I
no longer feel I can vote my confidence in the Renzi
government," the Lower House MP told ANSA on the phone.
A leading dissident within the premier's party, Civati in
April called for a national referendum to amend Renzi's Italicum
electoral reform, shortly after it became law with a confidence
vote.
"I know I won't vote for the Italicum (as it stands),"
Civati said late last month.
"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 at the time.
Deep divisions have emerged within the PD over several
government policies, with a group of minority rebels openly
defying the party line on some issues.
These include the government's Italicum and its planned
revamp of Italy's political institutions - both of which are the
result of the so-called Nazareno pact that Renzi struck last
year with ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi, the leader of the
opposition centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party.
Berlusconi has since disavowed the pact.
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