However, League politicians immediately accused the left of “exploiting the attack for political ends”. He added that the bill had the support from senators belonging to the two biggest parties in parliament – the PD and the Five Star Movement – as well as Free and Equal, a small leftwing group, and several senators with Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia. Zan said there was an urgent need to pass a law that exists “in almost all other western countries”. The law, drafted by Alessandro Zan, a senator with the centre-left Democratic party (PD), would be an extension of an existing law that punishes racist violence, hatred and discrimination. However, the bill’s passage through the upper house, or senate, has been delayed by a change of government but also resistance from senators belonging to Matteo Salvini’s far-right League, which returned to government after endorsing prime minister Mario Draghi’s broad coalition. The law outlawing violence against gay people has run into delays from rightwing senators in Italy’s parliament.
