Renzi defends possible talks with Berlusconi

IMG title=”” alt=”” src=”http://www.mineralfossil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/wpid-a5b9e97f4b0ce38cc18526ed74833210.jpg” IMG class=hide alt=”Renzi defends possible talks with Berlusconi” src=”http://www.mineralfossil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/wpid-a5b9e97f4b0ce38cc18526ed74833210.jpg” (see related) (ANSA) – Rome, January 16 – The new leader of the center-left Democratic Party (PD) on Thursday said criticism surrounding him possibly engaging in cross-party talks with ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi was “ludicrous”. “The controversy surrounding talks with (Berlusconi’s center-right) Forza Italia is ludicrous,” said Renzi at his first party meeting since a landslide victory at a primary in November. On Wednesday the 39-year-old mayor of Florence said he was considering meeting with the three-time premier to discuss election reforms, as he has done with other party leaders. Critics in Renzi’s own PD have said talks with Berlusconi, who was handed a binding conviction last year and expelled from parliament, would help rehabilitate his marred image. “This controversy of meeting with a felon is outrageous. P(Berlusconi) was a founder of the current government, and I didn’t see any ministers step down when he was convicted”. After coming in second at elections last February, Berlusconi’s now-defunct People of Freedom (PdL) party was a part of the coalition until pulling its support and disbanding in November./PIMG id=mediaViewer title=”” alt=”” src=”http://www.mineralfossil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/wpid-trasp84.gif”ALL RIGHTS RESERVED