Napolitano blasts political conservatism

(ANSA) - Rome, October 23 - Excessive "conservatism and corporatism" coupled with political "misunderstandings, conflicts, and prejudices," threaten to hamper much-needed reforms in Italy, President Giorgio Napolitano said Thursday.
    However, structural reforms cannot be postponed, he added while calling on the European Union to pursue a strongly "growth-oriented agenda" to save the region from economic stagnation or outright deflation.
    "We cannot remain prisoners of paralysis and impediments," to change, he said during a speech at the Quirinale presidential palace. "There is a growing sense of impatience, annoyance with the drag from old power structures," said Napolitano.
    He spoke as the European Commission was reviewing member States' budgets for 2015 while countries such as Italy pushed hard for more room for stimulus spending in rules on deficits and debt.
    The public is also tired of the persistent "negativity" that plagues political, institutional and social behaviours, which is seen in the numerous unsuccessful votes in parliament for new Constitutional Court judges, the president added.
    As many as 20 votes have been held unsuccessfully.