December 28, 2017
MILAN (AP) — With Italy's parliament nearing the end of its term, Premier Paolo Gentiloni said Thursday that it would be in the country's best interests "to limit as much as possible the diffusion of fear" during the campaign to elect a new national legislature.
Gentiloni said during his year-end news conference that while the world is full of risks "the more we have an election campaign that veers from the easy sale of fear, the better it will be for the country."
Gentiloni was meeting later Thursday with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who sometime afterward will dissolve the current parliament in a formal step toward a 2018 general election. Italy's Democratic Party-led government has survived its full five-year term, but under the leadership of three premiers. Enrico Letta was ousted in a political maneuver by Matteo Renzi, who in turn resigned after a failed referendum, ceding the government last year to Gentiloni.
Gentiloni cited the achievements of his year as head of government, including passage of a law recognizing same-sex unions and another on living wills. He also acknowledged the defeat of legislation that would have accelerated the process of obtaining citizenship for immigrant children born and raised in Italy.
Even before it officially begins, the campaign shows signs of being a bruiser. The Democratic Party has splintered and been weakened following Renzi's fall from power, while former Premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia is locked in a struggle with Matteo Salvini's anti-migrant, anti-euro League for dominance of the center-right.
The vulnerability of the traditional political powers is giving further impetus to populists such as the Five-Star Movement. It remains Italy's most popular single party, but has refused to join a national coalition with any force.
Political analyst Wolfango Piccoli said the likely outcome of the next election is a hung parliament. Long negotiations resulting in "at best a patched-up deal involving several parties" would follow under that scenario, Piccoli said, making "the outlook for reform negative."
Pressed several times on whether he would consider continuing on as premier in the new government, Gentiloni deferred, saying he hoped his party would come out on top.
MILAN (AP) — With Italy's parliament nearing the end of its term, Premier Paolo Gentiloni said Thursday that it would be in the country's best interests "to limit as much as possible the diffusion of fear" during the campaign to elect a new national legislature.
Gentiloni said during his year-end news conference that while the world is full of risks "the more we have an election campaign that veers from the easy sale of fear, the better it will be for the country."
Gentiloni was meeting later Thursday with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who sometime afterward will dissolve the current parliament in a formal step toward a 2018 general election. Italy's Democratic Party-led government has survived its full five-year term, but under the leadership of three premiers. Enrico Letta was ousted in a political maneuver by Matteo Renzi, who in turn resigned after a failed referendum, ceding the government last year to Gentiloni.
Gentiloni cited the achievements of his year as head of government, including passage of a law recognizing same-sex unions and another on living wills. He also acknowledged the defeat of legislation that would have accelerated the process of obtaining citizenship for immigrant children born and raised in Italy.
Even before it officially begins, the campaign shows signs of being a bruiser. The Democratic Party has splintered and been weakened following Renzi's fall from power, while former Premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia is locked in a struggle with Matteo Salvini's anti-migrant, anti-euro League for dominance of the center-right.
The vulnerability of the traditional political powers is giving further impetus to populists such as the Five-Star Movement. It remains Italy's most popular single party, but has refused to join a national coalition with any force.
Political analyst Wolfango Piccoli said the likely outcome of the next election is a hung parliament. Long negotiations resulting in "at best a patched-up deal involving several parties" would follow under that scenario, Piccoli said, making "the outlook for reform negative."
Pressed several times on whether he would consider continuing on as premier in the new government, Gentiloni deferred, saying he hoped his party would come out on top.
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