ROME – Democratic Party leader Matteo Renzi, along with other members of the opposition, exulted on Wednesday after two “rebellious” Five Star Movement senators refused to vote against an amendment to the government’s controversial Senate bill on illegal building in Ischia, sources say.

 Renzi thanked Paola Nugnes and Gregorio De Falco profusely on Facebook just after the vote, whose rebellion ensured that an amendment to Article 25 of the Genoa Decree passed. The crucial article initially included a controversial proposal from the government to provide amnesty for illegal building on the island of Ischia. However, a 2017 earthquake had led to a number of deaths of people living in such buildings.

 The former Prime Minister also called on Deputy Prime Ministers Matteo Salvini and Luigi di Maio, the driving forces behind the proposed amnesty, to remove the controversial article from the decree. Without it, Renzi assured, “we will vote with you!”

 Five Star Movement leader Di Maio reportedly convened a meeting with ministers and party leaders after the vote to discuss the necessary sanctions against the two dissident senators, whose rebellion was branded “very serious” di Maio himself. In response to reports of this M5S meeting, De Falco, who voted in favour of the opposition amendment tabled by Forza Italia Senator Urania Papatheu, said, “I’m not afraid of anything, because when you’re right you cannot be afraid.” Nugnes abstained from voting, meaning that the amendment was approved by 23 votes to 22.