Italian Senate changed its mind to cancel allowances to deputies

Members of the commission on controversial issues of the Italian Senate on Friday, June 26, voted against stopping increased payments to former deputies and ministers (who in Italy are also elected from among the deputies). The initiative does not comply with the definitions of the Constitutional Court of Italy and EU law and therefore recognized as unreasonable, the commission explained. Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio (the former leader of the populist Movement of 5 Stars of the Authors of the Initiative, which is part of the ruling coalition) said he was extremely disappointed by the reluctance of members of parliament to deprive themselves of privileges.