Prime minister Matteo Renzi’s ruling party patched up its internal divisions and reached agreement on a contested reform of Italy’s upper house of parliament yesterday, meaning it is likely to pass into law.
However, hoping to derail a Bill that Mr Renzi says is vital to the future of his government, the opposition Northern League party presented a record 82 million amendments – a manoeuvre which will complicate and possibly prolong the debate.
The reform would cut the number of senators by two-thirds and strictly limit the powers of the upper house in an effort to streamline politics and make governments more stable.
The Italian constitution, drawn up after the second World War following the disastrous dictatorship of Benito Mussolini, stipulated that no law could be enacted until both the upper and lower houses had agreed to exactly the same document. – (Reuters)