ROME: Italian centre-left leader Matteo Renzi called yesterday for swift reform of an electoral system blamed for the country’s bouts of political deadlock and said he expected an agreement could be completed within weeks.
Renzi is not in the government but as head of the Democratic Party, the biggest party in Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s left-right coalition, he will have a decisive role to play in shaping the political agenda and has already called for quicker action on reforms.
Earlier, Renzi suggested that moves to fix the economy and political system might lead to an easing of European Union deficit limits that have forced austerity measures on a resentful Italian public already coping with recession.
Electoral reform has been one of the thorniest issues confronting Letta’s coalition, formed after an inconclusive election early last year prevented any side from forming a government on its own. It has been seen as a vital requirement if Italy is to elect a government capable of taking clear choices and pushing through a reform agenda but agreement has long been held up by party bickering.
The current system makes it difficult for any party to form a stable majority in the two houses of parliament. It also gives voters no say over their individual representatives, who are appointed to fixed electoral lists by party bosses.
Reuters
