Sections

Renzi blames D'Alema for PD split

Tuscan governor accuses ex-premier of arrogance

Redazione Ansa

(ANSA) - Rome, February 27 - Ex-premier Matteo Renzi said he expected Italy to hold elections at the end of the parliamentary term next year in his first TV interview as a candidate in leadership primaries of his centre-left Democratic Party (PD).
    He also accused another ex-premier, Massimo D'Alema, of being behind the split that saw a left-wing PD minority to break away last week and form a new party - the Democrats and Progressives (DP). "I'm sorry because we did everything to prevent people leaving, but we had the impression that is was a design that had already been written," Renzi told State broadcaster RAI.
    "Written, created and produced by Massimo D'Alema". Tuscan Governor Enrico Rossi, part of the breakaway group, hit back, accusing Renzi of being arrogant and obsessed by D'Alema. Renzi also said he would not try to bring down the current government of Premier Paolo Gentiloni, his PD colleague. "The elections are scheduled for 2018. Full stop. If Gentiloni wants elections before, it is up to him," he said. The PD is set to hold leadership primaries on April 30.
    Renzi is being challenged for by Justice Minister Andrea Orlando, Puglia Governor Michele Emiliano and Carlotta Salerno, a Turin party chief.
    Renzi resigned as premier in December after almost three years in office following the rejection of his flagship Constitutional reform in a referendum.
    Renzi, who has been accused of arrogance, trying to make the PD a personalised party and moving it too far to the centre, was replaced as premier by former foreign minister Gentiloni.
    He quit as PD leader earlier this month to trigger the process of a new congress to be able to stand to get a renewed mandate as leader.
   

Leggi l'articolo completo su ANSA.it