FI calls Renzi 'South American' dictator over Senate reform

(ANSA) - Rome, April 1 - The House whip for three-time premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia (FI) party likened Premier Matteo Renzi to a "South American" dictator on Tuesday for his alleged heavy-handed decree to reform the Senate. On Monday his cabinet unanimously approved a law that will largely strip the Senate of its lawmaking powers, reduce the number of lawmakers, and scrap Italy's provincial governments in an effort meant to streamline governance and cut public expenses. House Whip Renato Brunetta accused the center-left premier of using the law to defang the body in which his Democratic Party (PD) does not currently hold a majority. Brunetta formally outlined his opposition in a letter to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, asking him to back FI's request to open the "unconstitutional" law to amendments before it is enacted.
    Renzi, however, has been adamantly opposed to changing the law whatsoever, presenting it as a decree as opposed to a bill that would have needed approval in parliament before going into effect.