A tour de force to beat the filibuster. This is the path chosen yesterday by the conference of group leaders in the Senate, on a proposal from the Democratic Party. At the heart of the discord, of course, the bill for constitutional reforms, which includes the much controversial metamorphosis of the Palazzo Madama assembly to overcome the perfect bicameral system.
Once the attempt to obtain a reduction in the number of amendments from the oppositions (7.850 in all) failed, the group leader established that from Monday the senators will meet indefinitely, with sessions from 9 to 24, including Saturdays and Sundays, to get to approve the reform package by the summer break.
However, the decision does not find one of the parties that contributed to writing the text under discussion, i.e. Forza Italia, in agreement: "I cannot ask my group to vote on this calendar because I find it unreasonable: the proposal I am making is to continue the debate as had been established and I hope that in the meantime reasonableness will take over,” said Paolo Romani, FI group leader in the Senate.
But Prime Minister Matteo Renzi doesn't agree: "This Parliament is at a crossroads: either it proves it is capable of changing by making reforms or it condemns itself and we go back to voting".
For now, however, no time restrictions have been placed, either the dreaded “guillotine” which had been talked about insistently yesterday morning and which was openly opposed by the Lega and M5s.
Meanwhile, again yesterday Giorgio Napolitano defended the path of constitutional reforms, taking a stand against those who criticize the text under discussion: "For seriousness and a sense of proportion - said the Head of State -, let no ghosts of snares and authoritarian machinations stir. We need to overcome extremisms and contrasts”.
