(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 23 - A big row broke out on Thursday between Deputy Premier and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini's League and the opposition, centre-left Democratic Party (PD) over mothers serving time in prison.
    It erupted after the PD lawmakers withdrew their signatures from a bill designed to benefit mothers in jail, causing the draft legislation to elapse.
    PD lawmaker Alessandro Zan said the move was linked to amendments presented by the ruling right-wing coalition, including measures making it possible for pregnant women and mothers with babies under one year of age to go to to prison.
    "We presented the bill to improve the conditions of mothers in prison, but the ruling majority transformed it, inserting measures that made it worse," said Zan.
    "This way it makes no sense".
    Salvini reacted furiously, saying the PD was "freeing bag snatchers" of Roma ethnicity who "use children and pregnancy" to get away with offences.
    "You should be ashamed of yourselves," he said, adding that the League would present a new bill reintroducing these measures.
    Under the new bill, League sources said, pregnant mothers who re-offend would not be spared jail time, a they are often now.
    (ANSA).