- Title: Thousands march against Italian PM and referendum
- Date: 22nd October 2016
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (OCTOBER 22, 2016) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATORS GATHERING IN SQUARE DEMONSTRATORS WAVING FLAGS TWO DEMONSTRATORS WITH LARGE BANNERS AROUND THEIR NECKS READING "NO" DEMONSTRATORS WITH BANNERS ON THEIR BACKS HOLDING FLAGS AND BANNERS BANNER WITH CARICATURE OF ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MATTEO RENZI IN UNIFORM OF BENITO MUSSOLINI, READING (Italian) "Vote No against the "piduista" (a masonic reference) and fascist Senate counter-reform." DEMONSTRATORS SINGING DEMONSTRATOR HOLDING UP BANNER WITH PICTURE OF RENZI AND TEXT READING (Italian) "Buffoon, let us vote on you" and "The constitution is not to be touched" DEMONSTRATORS WITH FLAGS AND BANNERS VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING LARGE BANNER READING (Italian) "Italy according to "RE"nzi", (RE MEANS KING IN ITALIAN) WITH CARICATURE OF RENZI WITH CROWN ON HIS HEAD (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) DEMONSTRATOR, CINZIA RONZITTI, SAYING: "We are here, to put it simply and in few words, to say "no" to Renzi. To say "no" to what he is doing because the country is in total shambles because of him. Nothing is going well, nothing, starting from health care which is being destroyed, hospitals are being closed, to the labour market, factories are being closed, as well as other businesses, small enterprises including and our youth are not able to find work because we'll retire when we're 100 years old, we'll die before we can retire. This is not good and we say "no"." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) DEMONSTRATOR, VANNA LOGI, SAYING: "None of his reforms are left-wing reforms, I support the left and I totally dissociate myself from Renzi and his government. His reforms are not from the left but in support of international finance. It's a total demolition of the welfare state." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMONSTRATOR AND USB (UNIONE SINDACALE DI BASE) TRADE UNION REPRESENTATIVE, FRANCESCO STACCIOLI, SAYING: "Today instead (after the strike) it's a big rally, which is a continuation of yesterday and for a "no" against the referendum, the constitutional referendum, which was called by this government and Renzi. That's why today it's called the "No Renzi Day". We want to put this government away from Italy and change the labour and social politics." DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING BEHIND LARGE BANNER READING (Italian) "No to the counter-reform and the Renzi's government" DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING WITH BANNERS READING (Italian) "I vote no" DEMONSTRATORS WITH FLAGS MARCHING DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING BEHIND POLICE VANS, CHANTING DEMONSTRATORS CARRYING FLAGS, MARCHING DEMONSTRATOR HOLDING UP FLARE WITH GREEN SMOKE, MARCHING
- Embargoed: 6th November 2016 15:02
- Keywords: Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi protest march Rome referendum "No Renzi Day" vote constitutional reform
- Location: ROME, ITALY
- City: ROME, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00155352RR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A "No Renzi Day" protest against the Italian prime minister brought thousands of people to the streets of Rome on Saturday (October 22).
The protest march across the Eternal City came a day after a 24-hour nationwide strike affecting public transport, schools and some airport services.
Saturday's demonstration, as well as Friday's (October 21) strike, was called by the USB, Unicobas and USI labour unions, who are protesting against the "Jobs Act" brought in by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's government which, workers say, has weakened protection against dismissal and makes it easier for companies to use temporary labour instead of using full-time, long term contracts.
According to USB more than 40,000 people took part in Saturday's march.
"We are here, to put it simply and in few words, to say "no" to Renzi. To say "no" to what he is doing because the country is in total shambles because of him. Nothing is going well, nothing, starting from health care which is being destroyed, hospitals are being closed, to the labour market, factories are being closed, as well as other businesses, small enterprises including and our youth are not able to find work because we'll retire when we're 100 years old, we'll die before we can retire. This is not good and we say "no"," said demonstrator Cinzia Ronzitti, who had travelled to Rome from Genova.
"None of his reforms are left-wing reforms, I support the left and I totally dissociate myself from Renzi and his government. His reforms are not from the left but in support of international finance. It's a total demolition of the welfare state," another demonstrator, Vanna Logi said.
The demonstrators were also urging Italians to vote "no" in the upcoming referendum on constitutional reform called by Renzi on December 4.
"Today instead (after the strike) it's a big rally, which is a continuation of yesterday and for a "no" against the referendum, the constitutional referendum, which was called by this government and Renzi. That's why today it's called the "No Renzi Day". We want to put this government away from Italy and change the labour and social politics," said demonstrator and USB representative Francesco Staccioli.
The reform aims to reduce the role of the Senate and cut the powers of regional governments.
Renzi says it will increase government stability and speed up lawmaking. Opponents say it will make Italy less democratic and complicate the legislative process.
The great majority of opinion polls over the last month put the "no" camp ahead, but with many voters still undecided, the margin remains narrow.
U.S. President Barack Obama backed Renzi in the referendum battle on Tuesday (October 18), but said the Italian leader should stay in office even if he loses the vote.
Renzi used to promise he would stand down if the referendum is rejected, but he has stopped repeating this pledge over the last two months, leaving some doubt about his intentions. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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