Grasso defends his secret vote decision

(ANSA) - Rome, July 25 - Senate Speaker Pietro Grasso on Friday defended his move to authorize secret votes on a big chunk of the thousands of amendments to a Constitutional reform bill now before the Upper House. Grasso, who is from the ruling Democratic Party (PD) but has voiced opposition to aspects of the bill, last Wednesday fielded what he called an "unprecedented" 920 opposition requests for voting to be secret, with 500 of those referred to the first two articles of Premier Matteo Renzi's proposed Senate revamp.
    He ended up authorizing secret votes, but only "on amendments referring to articles 1-18 of the bill, which deal with the functions of the houses of parliament". The PD proceeded to heap blame on the Speaker for providing ammunition to opponents of the bill, who include the opposition parties but also elements within its own ranks.
    "Parliament rules left me no choice," Grasso justified himself Friday.
    "There is no margin for interpretation".
    Grasso professed himself an "impartial judge... well aware of my role as guarantor of both the majority and the opposition".
    The speaker made his remarks during the traditional "fan ceremony", when journalists from the Parliamentary Press Association (ASP) give the country's president and the speakers of both houses a decorated fan to mark the end of the work year and the beginning of summer recess.