Something of a showdown was
expected Friday at a meeting of Democratic Party (PD) MPs
convened by Premier Matteo Renzi, ostensibly to discuss
controversial government reforms that some party members have
opposed.
Among those is former party secretary Pier Luigi Bersani,
who told L'Avvenire newspaper in an interview that he would
boycott the session out of deep disagreement on the government's
Jobs Act and planned Constitutional reforms.
"I'm not even considering (attending the meeting)," Bersani
said. "I don't agree to party executives becoming movie extras".
The former party chief also threatened to pull his support
for the premier's so-called Italicum electoral law reform.
"If Constitutional reform continues in this way I will
never agree to vote for the electoral law," he said.
Bersani charged that Renzi's Jobs Act labour reform
"places the worker in a pre-1970s relationship with the power
structure" and is therefore "outside the Constitutional order".
Some other prominent PD members suggested they have felt
marginalized.
For his part, Renzi has insisted that major issues have
been discussed and voted on within the party, adding the PD is
"open and inclusive".
"There has been an excess of argumentativeness," PD deputy
secretary Roberto Guerini and Renzi loyalist said Friday.
"I don't believe it is useful but I respect everyone's
opinions, including those I don't share".
"Saying this is the latest clash within the PD seems a
little exaggerated," said Reform Minister Maria Elena Boschi,
another staunch Renzi supporter.
She added that the new electoral law "must guarantee
stability and the relationship between voters and elected
officials, and favor the participation of women".
Leftwing dissident leader Gianni Cuperlo in a letter to
Renzi called for the government to start implementing a civil
rights agenda, including civil unions for gay couples, religious
freedom, and the franchising of immigrant residents with the
right to vote and citizenship for any children born in Italy.
And while Renzi loyalists tried to downplay the extent of
the rift between the old and the new guard - Bersani, a veteran
politician, handed the party leadership over to 40-year-old
Renzi 15 months ago - the meeting appeared to have concluded
without addressing its underlying issues.
The meeting has adjourned to next week, sources said.
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