Ex-premier and Italia Viva
leader Matteo Renzi said Tuesday that the rest of the government
must listen to his party's views in a big row over justice that
raised doubts about whether the executive could stay afloat.
There has been speculation that Premier Giuseppe Conte could
try to form a new coalition government without Italia Viva after
he and Renzi clashed over changes to the statute of limitations.
Conte has denied trying to form a 'new majority' while Renzi
has said it is simply the case the necessary support in
parliament had not been found.
"If there a government without us, we'll respect the will of
parliament," Renzi told reporters in the Senate.
"But if they don't have the numbers and we are decisive for
the ruling majority, then I say - 'listen to us too'.
"The issue is that there is a regulation on the statute of
limitations that I don't agree with.
"I'll debate it on the floor of parliament and I'll go all
the way".
Unlike the other parties supporting the government, IV is
opposed the "lodo Conte bis", a compromise on the statute of
limitations proposed Conte after it staunchly opposed Justice
Minister Alfonso Bonafede's reform that puts the statute of
limitations on ice after a first-instance court ruling.
Last week Conte accused Renzi of acting like an opposition
party and being rude to boot.
The premier said Tuesday that he was trying to de-escalate
the situation.
"Personally, I have always preferred to use time and
resources to work and not to feed rows," he said.
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