Premier Matteo Renzi clashed
verbally with elected representatives of the anti-establishment
5-Star Movement (M5S) in the Senate on Tuesday, reiterating his
earlier rejection of the party's alleged culture of defeatism
and practice of hurling abuse.
"The fact that you are losing members daily does not
authorise you to interrupt," Renzi told M5S senators in
reference to Tuesday's decision by MP Tommaso Currò to leave the
opposition party and join the majority.
"We are supportive of you and we understand your
difficulty," he continued.
"But if people don't vote for you any more, I think there
must be a reason," Renzi said.
The premier drew protest from M5S senators when he touched
on the controversial planned bid for Italy to host the 2024
summer Olympics based on Rome.
The tension rose further when Renzi condemned Tuesday's
massacre of children at a military school in Pakistan.
The premier's sympathy for Pakistan was rejected by the
M5S.
"Think about Italian children," shouted a M5S
representative.
Renzi responded angrily by calling for "a bit of dignity".
"How is it possible... to say 'think about Italian
children'," he asked rhetorically.
"We will never give in to the culture of defeatism, there
are some who animate it but there are also those who in the face
of problems find nothing better to do than shout, betraying the
hopes of those who voted for them," Renzi concluded.
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