Renzi-Berlusconi electoral law reform meeting inconclusive

(ANSA) - Rome, November 5 - Ex center-right premier Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday had a working lunch with center-left Premier Matteo Renzi at the premier's office.
    The two leaders wanted to talk about possible amendments to an election-law bill that is a result of an agreement the pair reached earlier this year, ANSA sources said. The two leaders apparently failed to agree, with sources in parliament saying Renzi told Berlusconi speed is of the essence in changing Italy's current electoral law, which has been ruled unconstitutional - but the older leader reportedly put the brakes on the process.
    Reforms Minister Maria Elena Boschi later remarked that the government will "evaluate" a proposed change to the electoral law calling for voters to elect 70% of MPs directly and the other 30% via blocked party lists.
    "I wasn't at today's meeting between the premier and Berlusconi, but we propose a bonus for parties that reach 40% and setting the bar for minority parties at 5%," Boschi told ANSA.