Italy's Constitutional Court said
Thursday that it considered assertions that the whole of the
government's law bringing in 'differentiated autonomy' to enable
regions to request more power over how the tax revenues
collected in their areas are spent was unconstitutional were
"not founded".
The court added, however, that it did consider specific parts of
the law "illegitimate".
The court examined the law after some regional governments
raised objections to it.
Opposition parties say the law is a threat to national unity and
will worsen Italy's north-south divide to the detriment of
poorer regions in the south.
They have collected signatures for a referendum on abolishing
the law.
One of the issues raised by the Constitutional Court regarded
the legitimacy of the minimum levels of service (LEPs) that must
be provided by all regions nationwide being updated via a decree
issued by the premier.
Another issue regarded "optionality for the regions receiving
devolution, to contribute to public finance objectives, rather
than the obligation to do so, with consequent weakening of the
bonds of solidarity and the unity of the Republic".
The court said it was up to parliament to resolve the issues it
has identified.
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