A chorus of heated opinions
circulated Wednesday regarding a referendum to be held April 17
on allowing offshore oil and gas drilling to continue in Italy.
Labour union UIL branded the referendum useless and said it
"offers an only partial response to the question of sustainable
development".
Nobel prize-winner Dario Fo criticised Italian Premier
Matteo Renzi for "saying don't vote and go to the beach", which
Fo called "an uncivilised paradox".
"This means slaughtering with insult and blowing
raspberries," Fo said, adding that he himself would "certainly"
vote.
Renzi has said he will not vote in the referendum and hopes
it fails to reach quorum.
A yes vote would ban drilling within 12 miles of Italy's
shores.
MP Roberto Speranza, part of a dissenting left-wing
minority within Renzi's Democratic Party (PD), said on his
Facebook page that he will vote "yes" on the referendum.
"Each day I meet many citizens who, with their
participation in the referendum, want to say that
(eco-sustainability) is the way to follow".
The Constitutional Court gave the green light to the
referendum in January, a decision welcomed by regional councils
and environmental groups concerned about the effects of offshore
drilling on marine ecosystems.
It was proposed by regional assemblies objecting to drilling
platforms over concerns about seismic stability and the
environment.
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