Opposition to seek to scrap autonomy law via referendum

(See related) (ANSA) - ROME, JUN 19 - The centre-left Democratic Party (PD) said Wednesday that it and other opposition parties would seek a referendum to scrap the government's law bringing in 'differentiated autonomy'.
    "The PD is ready to immediately collect signatures for a referendum against the 'Split Italy' law along with with the other opposition parties, other movements and civil society," PD Senate whip Francesco Boccia told ANSA after the law enabling regions to request greater powers and control over the taxes raised in their areas won final approval "You (the ruling coalition) leave us no choice but to collect signatures for a referendum that will surely reject the 'Split Italy' law''. There were also critical voices within the coalition supporting Premier Giorgia Meloni's government.
    Calabria Governor Roberto Occhiuto of Forza Italia (FI) said the centre-right party's lawmakers from his region did not vote for the bill.
    "I do not know whether the minimal electoral advantage that the centre-right will have in the North will compensate for the opposition and concerns that centre-right voters have in the South," Occhiuto said.
    "I understand the reasons of the Calabrian Forza Italia MPs - Francesco Cannizzaro, Giuseppe Mangialavori and Giovanni Arruzzolo - who decided not to vote for this law.
    "It was their decision, which I agreed with.
    "I fear that the centre-right at the national level has made a mistake, something which it will soon realise".
    Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana, on the other hand, was jubilant.
    "We can say that the Constitution has won, Italy has won," Fontana said.
    "As soon as the law is promulgated we are ready to send requests to the government, definitely for two important matters, health and the environment, and then for some others". (ANSA).