The Lazio Regional
Administrative Court (TAR) on Thursday ruled that a petition
against the wording of the question in the December referendum
on the government's Constitutional reform is inadmissible due to
flaws of jurisprudence.
The petition was made by the anti-establishment 5-Star
Movement (M5S) and the Italian Left (SI) party.
They argued the wording of the question favoured the yes
vote to Premier Matteo Renzi's overhaul of Italy's political
machinery.
The reform, among other things, would turn the Senate into
a regionally based body with fewer lawmaking powers to make
passing legislation cheaper and faster.
The TAR said Thursday that it had dismissed the petition
because the question was drafted by independent bodies.
It said the central referendum body that prepared the
question and the presidential decree with which it was adopted
stemmed from watchdog bodies "characterised by absolute
neutrality".
It added that this made them exempt from being examined
under its jurisdiction.
Renzi had said he would quit if he loses the referendum,
but has recently played this down, saying it was a mistake to
personalise the vote.
Almost all of Italy's opposition groups are campaigning
for a No vote.
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