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Opposition groups said Friday
that data showing that Italy's economic growth halted in the
second quarter and its debt reached a new record high in June
proved that the economic policies of Premier Matteo Renzi's
government were failing.
"You can see why Renzi prefers to talk about institutional
reforms and focus attention on his political future," said the
Lower House and Senate speakers of the anti-establishment 5-Star
Movement (M5S), Laura Castelli and Stefano Lucidi, referring to
the referendum on the government's overhaul of Italy's political
machinery - Renzi has said he will quit if the no vote prevails.
"It's a desperate strategy to hide his tragic economic
failures, which mean millions of people and families are having
to get used to poverty".
Ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia
(FI) also went on the offensive.
"It's a shower of bad news for Renzi," said FI's House
whip Renato Brunetta.
"The Bank of Italy and Istat have sounded the government's
funeral, above all regarding public debt - a new record in June
that belies Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan repeated claims
that it is coming down.
"Denying the obvious has become a consolidated practice
for this government".
Renzi's centre-left Democratic Party (PD) said
international factors including the Brexit and the recent spate
of terror attacks had contributed to the flat growth.
PD Senator Claudio Moscardelli said he was hopeful the
economy would get back to positive growth in the third quarter.
"The reforms being carried out (by the government), the
economic measures adopted with the last budget law and the new
ones that will soon be approved on investments, productivity,
lower taxes and boosting household incomes will provide a driver
for greater growth," he said.
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