A leftwing minority in the
Democratic Party (PD) led by former PD leader Pier Luigi Bersani
and former House whip Roberto Speranza said Tuesday they had
effectively split from the centre-left group and would take no
part in further meetings or the party congress later this year.
The 'Bersanians' criticised Puglia Governor Michele Emiliano
for deciding to stay in the PD despite his criticism of
ex-leader Matteo Renzi, who he will challenge in upcoming
primaries.
The PD split has long been brewing and came to a head Sunday
when ex-premier Renzi quit as leader to force a fast track to a
congress, ignoring rebels' pleas for a longer process.
Bersani, Speranza and others like Tuscany Governor Enrico
Rossi have long criticised Renzi's shifting the party towards
the centre and his allegedly high-handed treatment of dissenting
voices.
More recently, they have criticised his alleged lack of
reflection after a crushing December defeat in a Constitutional
reform referendum, which led to his resignation as Italian
premier.
According to pollsters the splinter group would get between
5% and 8% in a future general election.
The rebels have said they will continue to back Premier Paolo
Gentiloni, a PD member see as close to Renzi, and the former
foreign minister in Renzi's government.
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