Confindustria backs Yes in reform (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, June 23 - Powerful employers' lobby Confindustria on Thursday swung its weight behind a Yes vote in October's referendum on a reform to Italy's slow, costly political machinery. Confindustria's governing council voted unanimously in favour of new president Vincenzo Boccia's call to back the Yes vote. It said "the Constitutional reform looks to the country's general interest over the medium-to-long term and must be supported, whatever the political or electoral situation is. It is of course improvable but it is an indispensable pre-condition for realising the reforms needed to relaunch growth". The reform, on which Premier Matteo Renzi has staked his political future, aims to end gridlock and cut costs by turning the Senate into a leaner, regionally based assembly with limited lawmaking powers.