Renzi-PD rebels tensions escalate

(ANSA) - Rome, March 31 - Premier Matteo Renzi told The New York Times on Tuesday it is a time for action in Italy. "I'm the youngest leader Italy has ever had," the 40-year-old premier said, answering questions in English.
    "I'm using my energy and my dynamism to change my country.
    I think the time has come to write a new page for Italy. I can't wait for the old problems of the past". Renzi went on to call his Jobs Act labour reform "the most leftist thing I've done", saying it abolished what was a kind of "labour apartheid in Italy".
    Being a leftist in Italy today means "giving more rights to young people, giving possibilities to a new generation", the premier added. He also compared his vision for his Democratic Party (PD) to that of the UK's Labour Party under former prime minister Tony Blair. The challenge then was to transform Labour from a loser into a winner, Renzi said.
    While Renzi spoke to the authoritative American paper, rebels within his own PD who have yet to reconcile to the Jobs Act - which they say turns back the clock on workers' rights instead of creating jobs - continued rattling sabers. The bone of contention this time is the premier's planned electoral law reform, the so-called Italicum.
    On Monday, the PD voted to approve the bill as it stands after a Lower House reading. But a dissenting minority did not take part in the meeting and vowed to continue to fight the bill when it returns to the Senate for its third reading. The Italicum is the result of a deal between Renzi and former center-right premier Silvio Berlusconi, a fact which has produced discomfort within the ranks of both leaders' parties since it was first announced early in 2014. The bill would, among other provisions, award bonus seats to the party that garners at least 40% of the vote to ensure it has a working majority in parliament. A run-off round of voting will take place to decide who gets the bonus seats if no party crosses the 40% threshold.
    Italy's current dysfunctional electoral law - the so-called pigsty law - has been struck down by the Constitutional Court, and has been blamed for contributing to the inconclusive outcome to the 2013 general election.
    The Constitutional Court ruled then that a pure proportional system should take its place until parliament introduced a replacement, and PD dissidents on Tuesday took up that opinion to strike at the premier's bill.
    "If I have to allow a bad election reform or a bad Constitutional reform, I prefer to vote with the proportional system," leading PD dissenter Alfredo D'Attorre told La7 television. D'Attorre added that suggestions early elections would be needed if the Italicum were scuppered were threats "made with a water pistol" as "Renzi would not get back in government" if this happened.