Renzi tells NCD to 'lick wounds' after presidential election

(ANSA) - Rome, February 2 - Premier Matteo Renzi on Monday told the New Centre Right (NCD) party, junior partners in his coalition government, to "lick its wounds" and get over the election of new President Sergio Mattarella at the weekend. NCD leader Angelino Alfano told the party to vote in favour of Mattarella but many members of the group felt resentment that Renzi had managed to push through the candidate of his centre-left Democratic Party (PD). Indeed, Maurizio Sacconi quit as NCD's Senate whip in protest.
    "Today we must work calmly. Those who need to lick their wounds should do so, but there's now needs for rows," Renzi told RTL radio.
    "We have elected a gentleman (as president). The day after you have to start over - rows are part of old-style (Italian) politics.
    "We are here to govern Italy, not to shore up internal alliances".