Rome said it was ready to hold discussion with the regions of Lombardy and Veneto, after Italians in the northern regions voted overwhelmingly in favour of greater autonomy at a referendum held over the weekend.
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said he was open to negotiations on how Lombardy and Veneto "wanted to proceed", Reuters reported.
“Here we are talking about how to make Italy work better. We are not calling into question Italy and its unity,” Mr Gentiloni was quoted by the news wire as saying.
“We are ready (to grant greater powers) within the limits fixed by our laws and by our constitution,” Mr Gentiloni added.
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