Meloni hails OK to autonomy bill

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 2 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Thursday hailed the cabinet's approval of an autonomy bill filed by Regional Affairs and Autonomies Minister Roberto Caderoli of the once-secessionist League party.
    "This measure proves once again that this government will keep its commitments, consistency with the mandate received from the citizens is a compass for us" said Meloni.
    The opposition has said the bill will worsen disparities between richer northern regions and poorer southern ones, a contention the government denies.
    "It would be appropriate for the southern regions and those led by the Democratic Party (PD) to ask for an urgent convocation of the State-Regions Conference, which has been ignored and humiliated by the government and by Calderoli, who did not want to make a preventive step with the vote of the Regions" said MP and candidate for the leadership of the PD, Elly Schlein.
    (ANSA).