- Title: Parliamentarians push for early elections in spring after Renzi resignation
- Date: 7th December 2016
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (DECEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) PEOPLE IN STREET WITH SENATE IN BACKGROUND PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET MEDIA OUTSIDE SENATE CHANGE OF GUARD (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) DEMOCRATIC PARTY SENATOR, FRANCESCO GIACOBBE, SAYING: "I think Italy needs a government and a government that is able to govern, our international reputation depends on it. Let’s hope the government can govern for at least a couple of months." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) SENATOR MIXED PARTY, CORRADINO MINEO, SAYING: "Seeing as we are not in a normal country, unfortunately I think (Prime Minister Matteo) Renzi took his defeat badly and he wants an immediate victory. It is in (5-Star Movement Leader Beppe) Grillo's interests to give him this immediate victory even with this awful law. But the country will suffer. So it is up to (President Sergio) Mattarella to play the referee and we are all in his hands." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) SENATOR 5-STAR MOVEMENT, PAOLA TAVERNA, SAYING: "We want the country to express itself. When it does express itself it makes great decisions so why don't we leave to this up to a great Italy." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE SENATE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RESIDENT, ANGELA CORONATI, SAYING: "There is going to be a disaster because the old school are going to come back, I think. I think that is what is going to happen, that which we had before is going to come back and we are tired of that." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RESIDENT, PAOLO LAUDICINA, SAYING: "Why are we in such a hurry? Let’s do things properly in Italy, we have to do things properly because the people need certainty." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE SENATE
- Embargoed: 22nd December 2016 18:18
- Keywords: Italy Matteo Renzi resignation politicians President government
- Location: ROME, ITALY
- City: ROME, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Reuters ID: LVA0015BVYSLJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Most parliamentary factions on Wednesday (December 7) were pushing for an early election in the spring following the announcement by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi he would resign.
The 41-year-old's decision to quit after less than three years in office dealt a new blow to Western governments still in shock from Britain's vote to leave the European Union and the election of outsider Donald Trump as president of the United States.
The political crisis sparked by the referendum coincides with a crisis in Italy's debt-laden banks, especially at its third-biggest lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which looks likely to require government intervention to survive.
President Sergio Mattarella is likely to ask Renzi to remain in office in a caretaker capacity for an unspecified period, during which time he might end up having to resolve the situation at Monte dei Paschi.
Italy is not due to hold a parliamentary election before 2018. While there is a growing consensus that the schedule should be accelerated by a year, Mattarella wants parliament to draft a new electoral law beforehand.
"I think Italy needs a government and a government that is able to govern, our international reputation depends on it. Let's hope the government can govern for at least a couple of months" said Democratic Party (PD) Senator Francesco Giacobbe.
Both the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and right-wing parties Northern League and Brothers of Italy are pushing hard for an early vote.
"Seeing as we are not in a normal country, unfortunately I think (Prime Minister Matteo) Renzi took his defeat badly and he wants an immediate victory. It is in (5-Star Movement Leader Beppe) Grillo's interests to give him this immediate victory even with this awful law. But the country will suffer. So it is up to (President Sergio) Mattarella to play the referee and we are all in his hands," said Senator Corradino Mineo.
"We want the country to express itself. When it does express itself it makes great decisions so why don't we leave to this up to a great Italy," said Senator for the 5-Star Movement Paola Taverna.
Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia and a left-wing minority inside Renzi's own Democratic Party (PD) want a new administration to be formed with the backing of the current parliament, perhaps until 2018.
The PD has the largest number of parliamentarians, so it is unlikely any new government could be formed without his backing.
Some Italians expressed their concern for the future.
"There is going to be a disaster because the old school are going to come back, I think. I think that is what is going to happen, that which we had before is going to come back and we are tired of that," said Rome resident Angela Coronati.
Others worried things were moving too quickly.
"Why are we in such a hurry? Let's do things properly in Italy, we have to do things properly because the people need certainty," said resident Paolo Laudicina.
Renzi handed in his resignation to the President in the evening. Mattarella will now table a round of consultations with leaders from the various parties before announcing his decision on what should happen next. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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