(by Stefania Fumo).
Unions and opposition politicians
on Monday blasted what many have dubbed a Save-Berlusconi
article contained in a government tax reform measure passed by
cabinet on December 24.
The controversial article would depenalize tax fraud "when
the sum of evaded taxes does not exceed 3% of declared taxable
income".
On Sunday, Premier Matteo Renzi in a surprise announcement
said his tax reforms would be sent back to cabinet in light of
concerns that the measure could be used to annul the August 2013
tax-fraud conviction of ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi, thus
allowing him to run for office once more.
A dissenting leftwing minority within Renzi's own party had
harsh words for its leader on Sunday, calling the withdrawn
article "preposterous" and a "dirty trick".
On Monday, labor and opposition figures chimed in.
"Such questionable measures must be expunged from the
government agenda for good...in the name of fighting tax evasion
and promoting tax equality," said CISL trade union federation
chief Annamaria Furlan.
"Renzi didn't know about the law that would have helped
Berlusconi. Do you believe him?" tweeted Matteo Salvini, the
leader of the anti-immigrant, anti-euro and separatist Northern
League party.
"(The premier's office) is like one of those Camorra
mafia-held neighborhoods where no one knows what's going on,"
said Lower House MP Alessandro Battista, who is from the
anti-establishment, anti-euro 5-Star Movement (M5S).
M5S leader Beppe Grillo followed this up on his popular
blog, calling Berlusconi "the ventriloquist" and Renzi "his
dummy".
"In a fully liberal democracy, someone would have resigned
the day after #SaveBerlusconi," tweeted Left Ecology and Freedom
(SEL) House whip, Arturo Scotto.
"Instead, they're still playing hide-and-seek".
In a newspaper interview, leading PD dissenter and MP
Stefano Fassina said the reforms were "chilling" and Renzi had
"forced his hand" by pushing them through cabinet just before
Christmas.
Renzi said in a television interview that he wanted to
avoid any perception of a "backroom deal" to benefit Berlusconi,
whose Forza Italia (FI) party has gotten behind the premier's
electoral reform bill.
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