The Senate and Lower House whips of
the opposition 5-Star Movement (M5S) said Thursday that they had
written to President Sergio Mattarella asking him to consider
using his Constitutional prerogatives to send the government's
law introducing 'differentiated autonomy' back to parliament for
fresh deliberation before promulgating it.
Whips Francesco Silvestri and Stefano Patuanelli said the
government had used an ordinary law, rather than a
Constitutional law, to "undermine the constitutional order" with
the so-called 'Split Italy' legislation.
The controversial measure, which won final approval on the Lower
House on Wednesday, will enable regions to request more power
over how the tax revenues collected in their areas are spent.
Opposition parties say it will worsen Italy's north-south divide
as it will favour wealthier regions in the north.
The M5S, the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and the other
opposition groups have said they are going to collect signatures
to hold a referendum on abolishing the law.
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Thursday
that the reform "goes in the right direction" and dismissed
charges that it 'splits Italy'.
He said it had raised "legitimate concerns in the south of the
country" but added that these would be dispelled with
legislation implementing the reform that would protect the
south.
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