Former president Giorgio Napolitano
told Il Foglio paper in an interview out Wednesday that he
supports Premier Matteo Renzi's constitutional reform law, but
said the premier should be open to revising his Italicum
electoral reform.
Italy's parties are girding for battle over Renzi's
constitutional reform, which would slash the Senate by
two-thirds and reduce its lawmaking powers in a bid to end
decades of political gridlock.
That reform has been passed into law, but must be approved
by a popular referendum to be held in October.
Majority parties are therefore campaigning for a 'Yes' vote
and opposition parties for a 'No' vote.
In the interview, Napolitano berated the "psychological
terrorism being bandied about by some 'No' propaganda, on the
specific flaws and alleged risks of the reform.
"Missing out on this opportunity to overcome the equality
of the two houses of parliament (which has been blamed for
decades of ineffective government) would be a catastrophe,"
Napolitano said.
The former head of State added Renzi should consider
revising his controversial new Italicum law, which introduces a
two-round system of voting and a large majority bonus.
Napolitano said the law relies too heavily on the run-off
vote "which in the present context, risks leaving the country in
the hands of a political party that has not been legitimated
with enough votes in the first round".
Renzi's center-left Democratic Party (PD) faces calls for
changes to the Italicum from its conservative allies after its
poor showing in June local elections.
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