Opposition parties to stage protest after brawl in House

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 13 - Most of the Italian opposition parties said Thursday that the will stage a protest rally in Rome on Tuesday after an MP for the 5-Star Movement (M5S) needed medical attention after a brawl in the Lower House on Wednesday.
    The ugly scenes broke out as the House was examining the government's controversial bill for 'differentiated autonomy', which will enable regions to request more power over how the tax revenues collected in their areas are spent and which critics say will worsen the north-south gap.
    At one stage M5S MP Leonardo Donno tried to hand an Italian flag to Regional Affairs and Autonomy Minister Roberto Calderoli, prompting a number of MPs from the governing coalition to rush over.
    A male MP can be seen attempting to land punches in the footage of the incident.
    Donno ended up on the floor and had to be taken out of the chamber in a wheelchair.
    The M5S, the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), the Green-Left Alliance (AVS) and the More Europe party said they would stage the rally in Rome's Piazza Santissimi Apostoli at 17:30 on Tuesday.
    "After the physical attack by the ruling majority in Parliament, we cannot accept that the country is also hostage to this climate of continuous intimidation," the parties said in a statement.
    "We will not allow national unity and cohesion to be compromised. That is why we invite citizens, political and social groups and the civic and democratic forces of this country to join our mobilisation" Donno subsequently said he was all right following medical tests and accused League MP Igor Iezzi of punching him in the face.
    Iezzi denied this, admitting he had tried to deliver punches but saying he had failed to land a blow. (ANSA).