M5S to protest agst 'cancellation of laws' Feb 15

(ANSA) - Rome, February 5 - Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Wednesday the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) would stage a street protest February 15 against the alleged cancellation of laws the M5S has passed including scrapping 'vitalizi' parliamentary pensions, introducing a 'citizenship wage' basic income and reforming the statute of limitations.
    He called on the Italian people to demonstrate with the M5S, which he led until recently.
    "We knew that the system wanted to cancel our laws," he said.
    "There is just one response: the Italian people must peacefully demonstrate against this obscene act of restoration which has started with the vitalizi act.
    "I will be with you on February 15".
    Vitalizi, seen as a mark of unacceptable parliamentary privilege, have recently been reinstated for many former MPs.
    As for the statute of limitations, M5S Justice Minister Alfonso Bonafede recently passed a law freezing the statute of limitations after the first-instance trial.
    Some of the M5S's government partners, most notably Matteo Renzi's centrist Italia Viva (IV) party, want to restore the former statute of limitations norms saying it is unfair on defendants who risk never-ending trials.
    Meanwhile a referendum has been proposed on scrapping the basic income, which is aimed at getting job seekers into employment.
    Di Maio said: "we did the statute of limitations (law) and they want to cancel it, we did the basic income and they want a referendum to abolish it".
    Ex premier and former centre-left Democratic Party (PD) leader has often been at odds on policy with the M5S.
    He has also squabbled quite frequently with his other main government party, his former group the PD.
    The IV has led opposition to the Bonafede's changes from within the government, arguing there is a risk of people getting embroiled in never-ending trials and the slow pace of Italy's justice system getting worse.
    The reform has also come under fire from judges and criminal lawyers, as well as opposition parties.
    Renzi warned M5S heavyweight Bonafede that he risks a defeat in parliament unless he gives ground.
    "You can't go against everyone," Renzi said.
    "If Bonafede wants to force things we know that, in the Senate at least, he doesn't have the numbers".
    PD leader Nicola Zingaretti called for a compromise.
    But he also warned that "if one is not found, we'll move forward with a law of our own".
    Di Maio recently stepped down as M5S leader citing backstabbing, defections and poor election results, and was replaced as interim leader by Vito Crimi.
    A new leader will be chosen at an 'estates-general' meeting in mid March.