“This is direction number 31 since January 2014: it has been brought together at all key steps. We have chosen internal democracy and not the fireplaces of the big names or so-called. We promised it in the primaries and congressional commitment is worth more than the stomachaches of the leaders, so let's talk here”. It is the beginning of the speech with which Matteo Renzi presented his proposal for a reform of the Italicum. The premier and secretary of the Democratic Party confirmed that he is convinced of the validity and coherence of the constitutional reform that was approved in Parliament. But, he explained, “I have the political task of facing the issue of the so-called conjunction between constitutional reform and electoral law. Someone says it is decisive: I don't agree with it. However, constitutional reform being so important my task is to further seek the reasons for a point of agreement".
“This direction was preceded by a call for unity and then the day before saw a whirlwind of interviews” in which the break was already taken for granted, Renzi underlined. But the Italicum, the Pd secretary reiterated, must not be an excuse: "If someone wants to use the electoral law as an alibi, he should know that we we want to dismantle all the alibis“. So he said try to offer a solution with respect for everyone. “To keep the party united - he however warned - we cannot keep the country still ".
The proposal, he continued, is this: certain times to define a basic text to be brought to the Commission, after the referendum but before the end of the year. The basic text from which to start is the proposed modification already filed in the Senate by the Piedessian senators Vannino Chiti and Federico Fornaro. Renzi proposes to entrust to a delegation composed of the Pd deputy secretary Lorenzo Guerini, the group leaders of the Chamber and Senate, the president of the party Matteo Orfini and a representative of the minority. There are three points to be examined listed by Renzi: yes or no ballot (“And you know how I think about it”), the voting methods (also with regard to the size of the constituencies, preferences) of the deputies, prize for the coalition or the list. The electoral reform, Renzi underlined, is made in such a way that "75% of the members of the majority are elected with preferences".
The first part of Renzi's speech was entirely dedicated to highlighting the work accomplished so far by the government. “Today in Italy there are more rights, but also less taxes – Renzi said again -. The last time the tax burden was increased nationwide was in October 2013 when the VAT rate was raised, under the previous government. From that moment on, no more increased taxes in Italy”.
And again: “In 2012-2013 the growth was minus two per cent. From minus two we have gone to plus 1, it is still not enough but it is clear that the direction has returned to the right one”.
