Senate approves constitutional reform on budget deficits

The Senate on Wednesday approved a constitutional reform enshrining the principle of budgetary stability with 233 votes in favor and three against.

Several representatives of minority parties walked out before the vote, while others did not participate, to protest what they see as an exclusive initiative by the country's two main parties that left them out of the decision-making process. Approval was obtained in a few days via a fast-track procedure aimed at calming the international markets.