Premier Matteo Renzi said after
the passage of a landmark Constitutional reform bill ending the
Senate's equal status to the House Tuesday that it was "an
historic day for Italy".
"Politics has shown it is credible and serious. Now we ask
for the referendum," he said during a mission to Iran after the
Lower House gave its definitive OK to the bill reforming Italy's
unwieldy and costly political machinery.
"Politics has shown that it (can) reform itself and
democracy wins," Renzi said.
The bill passed by 361 votes to 7 after the oppositions
boycotted the vote.
If confirmed by a referendum in October, the new law will
abolish the Senate in its present form, thus ending Italy's
unusual system of 'perfect bicameralism'.
The premier has staked his political future on the success
of that referendum, saying he is prepared to quit if the popular
vote nixes his reform.
Under Italian law, any changes to the Constitution must be
approved by popular referendum.
Reform Minister Maria Elena Boschi also hailed passage of
the bill.
"Let's enjoy the moment, it's a historic result," she said.
Renzi's reform would, among other things, reduce the Senate
from its current 300 members to an assembly of 100 regional
officials with limited lawmaking powers in a bid to break the
gridlock Italian politics is famous for.
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