Democratic party (PD) deputy leader
Maurizio Martina said Monday the anti-establishment 5-Star
Movement (M5S) and the rightwing populist League, which emerged
as the two winners from the March 4 general election, should try
to govern Italy and the PD would remain in opposition as a
minority.
"Dear (M5S leader Luigi) Di Maio and (League leader Matteo)
Salvini, take on your responsibilities," he said.
The PD, meanwhile, would "continue to serve citizens from the
opposition, in its role as parliamentary minority".
Martina said he would lead the PD in a caretaker capacity
after the resignation of ex-premier Matteo Renzi "with
the utmost collegiality".
He said Renzi, who was not present at the directorate
meeting, had filed his resignation "but I think it is important
that he should continue to work with me in these weeks that
separate us from the party assembly".
Renzi ha said his resignation will become effective when a
new government is formed from Italy's hung parliament.
Martina said next month's PD assembly should elect a
"commission for a project for a constituent and reorganisation
phase, instead of launching the congress" after its dreadful
showing in the March 4 general election.
Martina ended his first speech to the PD directorate after
Renzi's announced resignation following the election debacle by
quoting Winston Churchill on the party's hoped-for comeback.
"Success is never definitive, defeat is never fatal; it's the
courage to continue that counts," he said.
"That's it, I ask you to continue with courage, together.
Italy still needs us".
The PD scored an all-time low of 19% on March 4, dropping far
behind the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M%S) as Italy's
top party.
The M5S, which swept the south of Italy on vows to introduce
a basic income and fight corruption and red tape, scored 32%,
making it the top individual party - though the centre right
coalition got 27%, becoming the top coalition.
Also at the PD directorate meeting, Transport Minister
Graziano Delrio told the directorate that the PD
would remain in opposition, "serious and responsible".
Delrio, a PD bigwig, said that after the general-election
debacle, "we received a postcard, clear and marked, from the
voters. We will be where the voters placed us: in the
opposition".
This opposition, he said, would be "serious, responsible and
constructive".
He said that when Italians realize that the winning parties'
election promises are "unachievable, the voters will call them
to account".
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