Foreign Minister and 5-Star Movement
(M5S) heavyweight Luigi Di Maio expressed outrage on Friday
after the Senate's disputes committee upheld an appeal against a
2018 decision to cut the vitalizi pensions of former lawmakers.
Reform of the vitalizi for being far more generous than ordinary
State pensions has for years been a priority for the
anti-establishment M5S.
"Using the Italian people's money to restore absurd privileges
at such a delicate time for the country, with an economic crisis
to face, is an act of absolute gravity," Di Maio said on his
Facebook page.
Matteo Salvini, the leader of the opposition League party, was
critical too.
"We in the League will oppose (vitalizi) everywhere and in every
way," Salvini said.
"We erected the barricades in the Senate and we'll do it on the
streets".
The former lawmakers who mounted the appeal said they were
"willing to make sacrifices" as long as a recent Constitutional
Court ruling regarding this issue is respected.
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