House gives final approval to govt's autonomy bill

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 19 - The Lower House on Wednesday gave final to the government's bill for 'differentiated autonomy' after a marathon parliamentary session that went on throughout the night.
    The controversial measure was passed into law with 172 votes in favour, 99 against and one abstention.
    The law 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.
    It is one of several reforms by Premier Giorgia Meloni's executive that the opposition are fiercely contesting.
    Another, the government move to introduce the direct election of the premier by the Italian people, completed its first passage through the Senate on Tuesday and has passed to the House.
    Meloni says it will boost democracy and stability, but opposition parties say it could lead to an authoritarian drift.
    Most of the Italian opposition parties staged a rally in Rome on Tuesday to "defend national unity" in the face of these reforms and also to protest against alleged "violence and intimidation" by the ruling coalition after an MP for the 5-Star Movement (M5S) needed medical attention following a brawl in the House last week. (ANSA).