GOVERNMENT; WHAT NOW?
A range of cards still to be played
T
he political terms of the situation may be briefly summarized as follows: the year 2001 is the government's natural expiry date, a series of referenda, one of which is to decide on the electoral law, is due on May 21.
D'Alema became premier after a parliamentary crisis and a change in the majority, opposition always maintained that the D'Alema government was an abuse of power against the people's sovereignty because not elected by voters, though the Constitution actually assigns Parliament the task of electing a government.
The referendum was promoted and supported by parties of both coalitions and there are parties in both coalitions in favor or against what referendum promoters' are aiming at: reaching a majoritarian electoral law
It already seems evident that majority parties maintain the need for the referendum to obtain a law that according to promoters will prevent "overturns". Two representatives of the majority have already declared that the referendum will take place and that the year and a half available will be spent to find the ideal candidate to lead the coalition to the next elections.
Berlusconi stigmatized these declarations as dramatic and the 'typical expression of the communists' way of governing in contempt of democracy'.
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