Another coalition Senator joins opposition to Upper House revamp

(ANSA) - Rome, June 27 - The number of rebel Senators within Premier Matteo Renzi's governing alliance who are opposed to the executive's plan to overhaul the Upper House grew to 19 on Friday.
    The government plans to turn the Senate into a leaner assembly of local-government representatives to save money and make passing legislation easier.
    But Tito Di Maggio, a member of the small For Italy (PI) party that supports the government, told ANSA Friday he was subscribing to an amendment to the government's bill that would see the Upper House remain an elected assembly.
    In total 36 Senators have subscribed to the amendment, including 16 members of Renzi's centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and two others who, like Di Maggio, belong to junior partners in the governing alliance.
    Renzi, who unseated his PD colleague Enrico Letta in February to become Italy's youngest premier at 39, has staked his credibility on revamping the Senate as part of a drive to overhaul Italy's slow-moving, costly political machinery.
    He has said he will quit politics completely if he fails.