Ex-premier Matteo Renzi seems
intent on pushing for early elections despite the threat that
this could cause a split within his centre-left Democratic Party
(PD).
Renzi, who stayed on as leader of the party after quitting as
premier in December following the rejection of his flagship
Constitutional reform in a referendum, is said to be looking to
try to win back his old job in April or, perhaps more
realistically, June.
Premier Paolo Gentiloni, also a PD member, took over the helm
of government last month and his cabinet is almost identical to
that of Renzi's.
Some PD members are against early elections, saying a party
congress needs to be held first so it can consider the direction
it needs to take following the No vote in the referendum.
There has also been talk about the need to harmonize the
election systems used for the Lower House and the Senate before
returning to the polls.
But Renzi said Monday that he would not call for an early
congress, adding he was asked not to do so after he quit as
premier and would respect the timeframe given in the party
statute.
Ex-premier Massimo D'Alema, a member of a rebel PD minority,
warned that this would be the last straw for many on the left of
the party who campaigned for a No vote in the December
referendum.
"The reaction would be to prepare another (electoral) list
the day that Renzi asks Gentiloni to quit to hold elections,
without changing the election law," D'Alema said.
"And if the left forms a new party, it will get over 10% of
the vote. I've had research done".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
