In the end, after a long and tiring day, the green light on the reforms arrived in the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Senate. The basic text of the government was approved late yesterday evening with the support also of some members of Forza Italia.
“Reform of the Senate. Approved the basic text of the Government. Very well, it wasn't easy. The swamp does not block us! It's really #lavoltabuona ”, tweeted Prime Minister Matteo Renzi after the approval.
The day, in any case, was full of discussions and attempts at mediation, especially after the agenda presented by Roberto Calderoli, which opened rifts in the majority.
Then, the Minister for Reforms with Parliament Maria Elena Boschi, before entering the meeting of the Constitutional Affairs commission of the Senate had reassured: "We are going to an agreement, the government has presented a text to the council of ministers and the majority will support it . We are open to changes that will be identified in an agenda, we won't let Calderoli win".
Meanwhile, the Commission has approved Roberto Calderoli's agenda by one vote, which provides for an Elective Senate and differs from Finocchiaro's on one essential point, namely the method of electing the future Senate.
The text presented by the Northern League senator provides that the senators of each region are elected by universal suffrage by the citizens of the same region at the same time as the regional councils. The text passed with 15 votes in favor and 14 against, thanks to Mario Mauro's yes.
In the continuation of the examination of the reforms, any amendments that may contradict Calderoli's agenda would be "admissible for debate and for voting", clarified the president of the Senate's constitutional affairs commission, Anna Finocchiaro.
