More moderates quit Berlusconi's Forza Italia

(see related story on political situation) (ANSA) - ROME, JUL 25 - MPs Annalisa Baroni and Giusy Versace on Monday became the latest figures to quit Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia (FI) after it helped put an end to outgoing Premier Mario Draghi's government of national unity last week.
    Several politicians have left the centre-left group in protest, including Civil Service Minister Renato Brunetta and Regional Affairs Minister Mariastella Gelmini.
    Minister for the South Mara Carfagna is also reportedly close to jumping ship.
    "The position adopted by the party in the middle of the crisis of government was disconcerting," Baroni said.
    "I would never have expected FI to rob the 5-Star Movement (M5S) and (M5S leader Giuseppe) Conte of the responsibility for bringing down the executive, condemning the country to instability.
    "I no longer identify with this FI, which has been following (League leader Matteo) Salvini and his populism for some time.
    "Mariastella Gelmini is right when she says there is no longer space for moderates in Forza Italia".
    Former paralympic athlete Versace, cousin to fashion designers Gianni Versace, Donatella Versace and Santo Versace, echoed those comments.
    "It was our duty to ensure stability for the country and continuity to this government, which was doing its job well, by taking it to the end of the parliamentary term in a few months' time with altruism and coherence," she said.
    "I would never have imaged ending this parliamentary term with so much sadness and disappointment".
    FI Coordinator Antonio Tajani, meanwhile, denied reports that Berlusconi had agreed a pact with Salvini for the ex-premier to become Senate Speaker, Italy's second-highest institutional role after the president, in the new parliament in exchange for bring down the Draghi government.
    Tajani suggested that the role was not imprtant enough for Berlusconi to want to bargain for. (ANSA).