Some parts of autonomy law unconstitutional - top court

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 14 - Italy's Constitutional Court said Thursday that it considered assertions that the whole of the government's law bringing in 'differentiated autonomy' to enable regions to request more power over how the tax revenues collected in their areas are spent was unconstitutional were "not founded".
    The court added, however, that it did consider specific parts of the law "illegitimate".
    The court examined the law after some regional governments raised objections to it.
    Opposition parties say the law is a threat to national unity and will worsen Italy's north-south divide to the detriment of poorer regions in the south.
    They have collected signatures for a referendum on abolishing the law.
    One of the issues raised by the Constitutional Court regarded the legitimacy of the minimum levels of service (LEPs) that must be provided by all regions nationwide being updated via a decree issued by the premier.
    Another issue regarded "optionality for the regions receiving devolution, to contribute to public finance objectives, rather than the obligation to do so, with consequent weakening of the bonds of solidarity and the unity of the Republic".
    The court said it was up to parliament to resolve the issues it has identified. (ANSA).