Former Milan mayor Giuliano
Pisapia threw his hat into the ring on Wednesday and said he was
ready to unite left-wing forces outside the Democratic Party
(PD) led by outgoing Premier Matteo Renzi.
"It is the moment of truth," Pisapia said in an interview
with La Repubblica newspaper in reference to the political
repercussions of Sunday's Constitutional reform referendum that
resulted in an overwhelming defeat for the government also due
to opposition from a left-wing faction within the PD.
The civil rights lawyer said when general elections are held
"as soon as possible, with an electoral law that is the same for
both chambers" he is ready to return to the field at the helm of
a grouping of progressive left-wing parties and movements that
would enter into a "loyal alliance" with Renzi on condition that
he breaks ties with current junior government partner New Centre
Right (NCD) and the centrist Liberal Popular Alliance of Denis
Verdini.
"Matteo needs to choose now whether or not to go to the polls
with the left," Pisapia said, adding that the PD's electorate
would never accept an "alliance with the NCD that would turn it
into a genetically modified party".
"What is needed is an open alliance...uniting left-wing
forces that are able to assume the responsibility of government.
Not for reasons of power, but to do left-wing things," he
continued.
There will be a first meeting in Rome on December 18 "with
mayors who want an alliance with the PD", followed by another
meeting in Bologna, Pisapia said.
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