Matteo Renzi cannot claim victory yet but his battle for the reform of the Senate, also thanks to the suicidal and Aventine tactics of the 5 Star Movement, has taken a clear step forward: Palazzo Madama has approved article 2, which is the heart of the reform and which foresees that the future Senate will be composed of only 100 members not directly elected by the citizens and therefore with a significant cut in the costs of politics.
The oppositions and dissidents are losing blows and of the initial 8 amendments to the reform, only 900 remain, so that the goal of approving the reform in the first reading by the fateful date of August 8 becomes realistic.
Renzi alternated between the stick and the carrot and confirmed his openness to dialogue above all on the revision of the Italicum, for which a new meeting between the prime minister and Silvio Berlusconi is looming, perhaps on Tuesday.
Lega Nord and the grillini instead preferred to abound in the hall of Palazzo Mdama in protest, while Sel retraced his steps.
On the other hand, Renzi was more cautious on the tax reduction of 80 euros in payroll. The prime minister assured that in 2015 the 80 euro discount on taxes for less well-off employees will be repeated but said he was not yet able, due to the worsening economy, to predict whether the measure could be extended to pensioners and matches VAT.
