Autonomy, Chamber of Deputies' approval of the bill: it is law. PD: now signatures for referendum against split Italy

After a long marathon night in the Chamber of Deputies, the second and final yes vote on the Autonomy Bill has arrived. The Chamber of Montecitorio passed the measure with 172 yes votes, 99 votes against and 1 abstention. It is now law. The opposition, with the PD, has already announced the collection of signatures for an abrogative referendum. But the go-ahead also marks a rift in the majority with the president of Calabria Roberto Occhiuto (Forza Italia) pointing out that the Calabrian deputies of Forza Italia 'have decided not to vote for this law': 'The regulation should have been more in-depth and the discussion should have taken place in a serene manner'.

'More autonomy, more cohesion, more subsidiarity. These are the three cornerstones of the differentiated autonomy bill approved in the Chamber'. So said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in a post on social media. 'A step forward,' says the premier, 'to build a stronger and fairer Italy, to overcome the differences that exist today between the different territories of the nation and to guarantee the same qualitative and quantitative levels of services throughout the entire territory. "This way forward, respecting the commitments made with the citizens," she concludes.

The leader of the Fratelli d'Italia group in the Chamber of Deputies, Tommaso Foti, announcing his favourable vote on the reform of differentiated autonomy in the Chamber, addressing the opposition, recalled the times when the reform had been tackled and requested also by the centre-left and added: 'It was enough for you to make the law, if you were so capable. Weren't you able to write how this law could be applied?". He then concluded by mocking the forces of the so-called 'wide camp': 'It is useless to beat around the bush, we caught you red-handed. Forget masks and face, you are just masks. You lost your face long ago. One nobody and a hundred thousand, good luck graveyard!".

"For a more efficient and more modern Italy, with less waste and more services to all citizens, from North to South: after many years of battles and commitment, despite the lies and attacks of the Left, thanks to the League and the government, the Autonomy requested by millions of Italians was also approved this morning in the Chamber of Deputies and is finally law. A victory for all Italians: thank you all!" Thus Matteo Salvini on Instagram in a post.

'Today's approval is the crowning achievement of years and years of political battles by the League, within the institutions and in the squares together with the militants, with a vote that writes a page of history for the whole country'. This is the incipit of the message that the Minister of Autonomies, Roberto Calderoli, posted on Facebook immediately after the approval of the Autonomy reform.