MILAN (AFP) - the top appeals court Italy gave the go-ahead for a referendum on nuclear power Wednesday despite a Government decision to temporarily freeze plans to return to nuclear power following the disaster at the Japan.
Italians will vote June 12 and 13 in the referendum, which, if approved, and if participation is high enough, would impose a permanent ban on nuclear power.
Centre-left opposition has lobbied for a referendum and rejected the moratorium the Government announced in April as an interim measure.
The Italy of the values party opposition had slammed Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to not recognize the strong public opposition to nuclear energy to try to undermine the referendum.
Berlusconi has long advocated nuclear power.
Before the decision of the Court, he insisted on freezing on the program rendered unnecessary to carry out the referendum, while confirming the Government's intentions to pick up nuclear calendar within two years.
The head of the main opposition Democratic Party, Pier Luigi Bersani, said that the green light for the referendum was "excellent news."
He said "dirty tricks by the Government were exposed once more,".
The campaign "Vote Yes to stop nuclear", a group of more coordination of 80 associations, said the Court of appeal was "censored the arrogance of the Government and given citizens the right to decide on nuclear power."
Nuclear abandoned Italy after a referendum in 1987 following the Chernobyl disaster.
Berlusconi was scheduled to begin to build nuclear power plants from 2014 and produce a quarter of its electricity with atomic energy by 2030.
As well as nuclear energy, the referendum will call for Italians vote on privatization of the water.
They will also vote on the embattled Berlusconi - currently on trial for crimes of sex and fraud - it has the right to refuse to appear in court for a period of 18 months to enable him to concentrate on his political commitments.
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