(see related)Rome, October 5 – Codacons consumer group said Wednesday it will lodge an appeal in the Lazio Regional Administrative Tribunal (TAR) against the wording of the question on a December 4 referendum. It is also asking the supreme Cassation Court to revoke the decision with which it admitted the referendum question. Italians will be called to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on a question that reads: “Do you approve a constitutional law concerning the scrapping of the bicameral system (of parliament), reducing the number of MPs, containing the operating costs of public institutions, abolishing the National Council on Economy and Labour (CNEL), and amending Title V of the Constitution Part II?” Title V covers regions, provinces, and municipalities. Premier Matteo Renzi’ s reform would complete the elimination of Italy’ s 110 provinces on the premise they are redundant and expensive. It would also reduce the Senate by two thirds (from 300 to 100), and do away with the equal powers between the Upper and Lower Houses of parliament – an unusual system that has been blamed for decades of political gridlock. Codacons says the question should be “more neutral and balanced” so as not to push voters to decide one way or another. The center-left government wants a ‘yes’ vote to prevail while the center-right and some of the leftwing opposition is campaigning for a ‘no’ vote.

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