Ex-premier Matteo Renzi, the leader
of the Democratic Party (PD), said Tuesday that squabbling
within the centre left contributed to its poor showing in
Sunday's local-election run-offs.
"The continual exasperating controversies within the centre
left do nothing but help the opposing side," Renzi said.
"It has always been that way. But it is clear that if many
people think the problem is only inside the PD, then someone
else may win the elections".
Renzi dismissed assertions that his failure to work on
forming a coalition with parties on the left of the political
spectrum, including PD splinter group MDP, contributed to the
centre left's poor showing.
"The debate on the coalition puts voters to sleep and it is
not needed," Renzi said.
"The coalition does not decide victory in itself. The
candidate, the leader, the area are what decide defeat or
victory in the run-offs.
"Coalitions are not a subject to entertain the Italians with
for the next 12 month," he added, with general elections set to
take place early in 2018 at the latest.
"What they are interested in is what we do on taxes.
Coalitions fascinate those working in the political world".
Renzi said the PD would not drop its backing for the 'ius
soli' (Latin for law of the soil) bill on the grounds that many
voters do not like the plan to grant Italian citizenship to
migrant children born on Italian soil who have had at last five
years of Italian schooling.
"You can't throw into doubt a battle like the ius soli one,"
he said.
"You can't change your mind because of a poll that says the
Italian people are less in favour, a trend that is not linked to
the (terrorist) attacks.
"I don't drop an idea because of a poll, just like we did not
drop the battle for civil rights, for the Jobs Act (labour
reform), for (Milan) Expo (2015). We are capable of taking our
responsibilities".
Renzi also said that he supported the government's
intervention to stop a disorderly failure of two medium-sized
Veneto banks.
"(Premier Paolo) Gentiloni expressed the government's
position very clearly - it was a legitimate, dutiful decision,"
Renzi said referring to Veneto Banca and Banca Popolare di
Vicenza (BPVI), the good assets of which has been taken over by
Intesa San Paolo.
"I agree with him. It was legitimate and dutiful in that
situation.
"I hope that our MEP are capable of conducting a great battle
so that the highly selective criteria of the Veneto banks is
applied to institutes of other northern countries, such as the
German ones".
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