Premier Giorgia Meloni accused the
opposition of adopting "violent" methods and defended her
government's reforms, including the recently approved law
bringing in 'differentiated autonomy'.
A brawl broke out in the Lower House before the controversial
measure, which will enable regions to request more power over
how the tax revenues collected in their areas are spent, won
final approval last week.
"We are patriots who know which way to fly the flag," Meloni
said on Facebook in a possible reference to opposition MPs
holding up Italian flags during protests against the reforms.
"We are working for all citizens to have the same rights.
"One M5S (5-Star Movement) MP called for Loreto for me," she
said, referring to the Milan square where Benito Mussolini was
hung upside down after being killed by Partisans at the end of
World War II.
"And the Left makes blacklists lists. I think the violent ways
of the Left are a desperate defence of the status quo, a defence
of privilege that has protected the few, at the expense of the
majority of Italians.
"We have promised to change things. We will go ahead without
being intimidated, always in the interest of the nation'".
Opposition parties say differentiated autonomy will worsen
Italy's north-south divide, by favouring wealthier regions in
the north.
It is one of several reforms that the opposition are fiercely
contesting.
Another, the government's move to introduce the direct election
of the premier by the Italian people, completed its first
passage through the Senate a week ago, having already gone
through 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
last 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 M5S MP needed
medical attention following the above-mentioned brawl.
Eleven MPs were suspended over the ugly scenes, with League MP
Igor Iezzi getting the longest ban, 15 days, for allegedly
trying to land punches.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
