(ANSA) - Rome, February 12 - Members of the
anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) on Friday appealed to
Italian President Sergio Mattarella to change the April date of
a referendum on offshore drilling for oil and gas in Italy so
that it coincides with local elections in June.
Premier Matteo Renzi's cabinet set the April 17 date on
Thursday.
"We need an election day to guarantee the quorum and also
to save 300 million euros of taxpayer money," M5S members of
parliament said.
On February 3, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said the
referendum cannot take place at the same time as June local
elections.
He said the possibility of the so-called election day
uniting both the referendum and local elections presents
"technical difficulties that are not able to be solved in an
administrative way".
M5S appeals to Mattarella on drilling
Movement wants vote to coincide with local elections