MILAN, March 27 (LPAC) -- The following statement was issued by Alfonso Gianni, undersecretary to the Economic Development Ministry in the outgoing Prodi government, on March 26. Gianni responded to the leaflet announcing a demonstration against the Lisbon Treaty, which the Italian Movimento Solidarietà--the LaRouche movement in Italy-- announced for March 28 in Milan.

"I would like to take this occasion to once again emphasize, as I have written and stated numerous times, my opposition and my party's opposition (the Rifondazione Comunista party) to the Lisbon Treaty, because that treaty is the result of a marketist, liberist, elitist and anti-democratic view of the process of European integration.

"The Europe which we would like to see, that it become a political entity which promotes peace, must be constructed through a process in which the peoples of our continent have a voice. We cannot accept an institutional framework based on the primacy of governments over parliaments.

"For these reasons, I would like to point out that during the discussion of the legislative calendar in Parliament, our group stated its opposition to placing the Treaty on the calendar during the period preceding the upcoming general elections, when the Parliament is only to deal with minor business.

"Unfortunately, our Constitution does not foresee the use of a referendum for international treaties. This is the real problem: the proposal has been presented as a treaty, when it is actually a proposal for a Constitution, and a profoundly flawed one at that. Thus, the request for a referendum has been avoided.

"For these reasons, it is even more necessary to spread awareness of the contents of the proposed treaty, broaden the debate, and increase the popular opposition in every country in Europe.

"I wish you success in your efforts.

"Alfonso Gianni"