Democratic Party (PD) leader
Matteo Renzi called on the centre-left group to show unity ahead
of elections early next year as he addressed a crunch meeting.
"We have the election campaign before us and the effort for
unity that is asked of the outside should be practised on the
inside first of all by those who lead it (the party)," Renzi
said.
"This means talking about the country and to the country".
Renzi said he would not disavow what has been been achieved
by his 2014-2016 administration and the current PD-led
government of Premier Paolo Gentiloni.
"To those who say that we have to wipe out the past to think
about the future, I say that we must strongly lay claim to what
we have done," Renzi told a crunch party meeting.
"Naturally, there were limits and difficulties, but the
country has improved in recent years.
"We closed the gap, we got the country going again and we
still have lots to do.
"Those who say we must disavow what has been done are not
aware of where we were three years ago".
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