#ITALY: PM Conte Faces Crisis As Coalition Partner Withdraws Support

[world politics news] 

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's government was plunged into crisis on Wednesday after the Italia Viva Party pulled out of the ruling coalition.

In a long-threatened move, former premier Matteo Renzi announce Wednesday evening that ministers from his Italia Viva party would withdraw, leaving Conte without a formal majority in the Senate.

The withdrawal of Renzi's party's 18 senators leaves Conte's coalition without enough support in the upper body, but it still has a majority in the Chamber of Deputies, the country's lower House of Parliament.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#ITALY: Parliament Begins Debating Electoral Reforms, Including Lessening Small Parties' Influence

[world politics news]

Italy's parliament has begun debating election reforms that could see a new election as early as this Fall and lessen the influence of smaller parties during formation of coalitions. The proposed law would introduce a proportional voting system - the so-called German model - whereby fringe groups that get under 5% of votes would be excluded from parliament, in theory leading to less political fragmentation. Larger, more stable coalitions could lead to greater electoral reforms. The election mandate of the current center-left government runs out in spring 2018.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Former Italian PM Matteo Renzi

#ITALY: Former PM Renzi Resigns As Leader Of Democratic Party, Triggering Contest

[world politics news]

Former prime minister Matteo Renzi has resigned as leader of the center-left Democratic Party, triggering a leadership election as his ruling party grapples with the threat of a split. Renzi, who stepped down in December after losing a government reform referendum, said he would run to win back his post as party secretary, which would put him in pole position to become prime minister once more if the party wins approaching national elections.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ITALY: Constitutional Court Rejects Labor Union Petition To Roll Back Former PM Renzi's Jobs Act

[world politics news]

Italy's constitutional court has rejected a petition form labor unions calling for a referendum on The Jobs Act, a key plank of labor legislation that was a flagship reform of ousted premier Matteo Renzi, whose Democratic Party welcomed the ruling, and hopes it boosts his chances for a comeback in the next election. The Act makes it easier for companies to hire and fire employees.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ITALY: PM Renzi Resigns After Clear Defeat Of Gov't Reform Referendum

[world politics news]

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will resign Monday morning after a clear and decisive defeat of his government reform referendum Sunday. The proposals, which gained about 45% support according to exit polls, were aimed at strengthening the political system, which has endured dozens of changes in governments since World War II. Renzi said the reforms would have cut Italy's bureaucracy and made the country more competitive.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ITALY: Proposed Budget Violates EU Rules, EU Officials Warn

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Italian deputies have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a draft 2017 budget that the European Commission has warned will breach EU rules on the management of public finances.
A vote of confidence designed to curtail debate on the first reading of the budget bill was carried by 348-144 votes, making its definitive approval by the lower house of parliament on Monday a formality. Italy was one of eight Eurozone countries warned last week that they could face fines and restricted access to funds from Brussels over their failure to stick to the EU's Stability Pact rules.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ITALY: PM Renzi's Budget "Full of Good News" For Italians; Lowers Deficit

[world politics news]

Italy's cabinet signed off on the nation's new budget, which will now need to be scrutinized by the European Union. It remains to be seen whether the Commission will be satisfied with Italy lowering its deficit to 2.3% of gross domestic product from the earlier 2.4% target. "It's a budget full of good news for Italy and the Italians," said Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ITALY: 5-Star Movement Wins Big: Takes Rome, Turin Mayoral Seats

[world politics news]

The anti-establishment anti-EU Five Star Movement has made big gains in Italy, winning mayoral races in Rome and Turin in second-round run-offs Sunday. Virginia Raggi will become Rome's first female leader, in a victory seen as a blow to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his centre-left Democratic Party, which secured Italy's financial capital, Milan, and Bologna.

#ITALY: PM Renzi Hails Approval Of Election Reform Package

[world politics news]

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi hailed Monday a sweeping constitutional reform to which he has attached his political future, ahead of a final vote on the measure by the lower chamber of parliament. The package strengthens central executive powers at the expense of the legislature and local administrations in the hope of giving Italy steadier governance.

#ITALY: PM Renzi Easily Survives Two "No Confidence" Votes

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Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has defeated two no-confidence motions brought by the opposition in parliament, which has accused the government of having a conflict of interest during the rescue of four small banks last year. Renzi's Senate allies easily repulsed the no-confidence motions - brought separately by the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the center-right opposition.

#ITALY: PM Renzi In Escalating Conflict With Merkel, EU, Over Migrant Funding

[world politics news]

The tensions between Rome and Brussels have intensified, with a tough exchange of words in the light of the unfolding refugee crisis. Rome is blocking a European Union plan to provide Turkey with €3 billion in aid, claiming that the amount earmarked for the country (approximately €300 million) should be exempted from the public deficit.

#ITALY: Five Star Party Rises In Polls To Threaten PM Renzi's Center-Left Party

[world politics news]

Italy's Five Star anti-establishment party is enjoying a boom in popularity which presents a real threat to the ruling center-left, according to a new poll. It showed 31.2% supporting PM Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party, while 29.1% favor the Five Star Party founded in 2009 by former comedian, Beppe Grillo.

Pictured: Luigi Di Maio, leader Italy's anti-establishment Five Star Party.

#CUBA: Italian PM Matteo Renzi Becomes First-Ever Italian Leader Visit To Cuba

[world politics news]

Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi arrived in Cuba last week for the first-ever visit by an Italian head of government, seeking a trade foothold as the communist island renews ties with the US and Europe. He met with Cuban Leader Raul Castro.

#ITALY: Parliament Begins Debating Gay Marriage; PM Renzi Supports; His New Center Right Coalition Partner Doesn't

[world politics news]

Members of Italian Parliament began heatedly debating a bill to legalize same-sex civil unions during a session that opened Wednesday. The legislation, supported by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, has already met with push back from conservative parties in the country, including the New Center Right, Renzi's coalition partner.

#ITALY: Senate Pres. Rejects 70 Million Computer-Generated Amendments To Reform Bill

[world politics news]

The head of Italy's Senate has rejected the more than 70 million computer-generated amendments submitted by the Northern League to a government-sponsored bill that would gut the Senate's powers and turn it into weaker a region-based assembly.

Pictured: Roberto Calderoli of the Northern League, a right-leaning separatist group which has 12 Senators in the 315-member Senate.

#ITALY: PM Renzi Refuses To Fire Minister Accused Of Bid-Rigging For Migrant Centers

[world politics news]

Italy's Prime Minister has rebuffed opposition demands that he fire a Giuseppe Castiglione, a junior agriculture minister under investigation for suspected bid-rigging of contracts for a huge migrant center in Sicily, from which public funds were allegedly skimmed by Mafia-connected officials.

#ITALY: Parliament To Vote Friday On Recognition of Palestinian State

[world politics news]

The Italian parliament will vote whether to recognize the State of Palestine on Friday, Feb. 27. Premier Matteo’s Renzi’s Democratic Party has said it would vote in favour, Ansa reported. However, the lower house vote may be postponed until March 3 if the government calls for a vote of confidence on a separate issue.

#ITALY: #EU Comm. Pres. #Juncker Responds to Italian PM #Renzi's Attack: "Not the Leader of a Gang of Bureaucrats"

[world politics news]

In the latest in an ongoing war of words between Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and the European Union, European Commission Pres. Jean-Claude Juncker hit back at Renzi's recent remarks about him and the EU, saying he is “not the leader of a gang of bureaucrat.".

#ITALY: PM #Renzi Vows To Simplify Tax Code

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#ITALY: Parliament Passes PM #Renzi's Plan to Spur Ailing Economy; Business Ldrs Skeptical

[world politics news]