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Italy's Giuseppe Conte tells populist leaders: 'Stop fighting or I'll quit' | Italy's Giuseppe Conte tells populist leaders: 'Stop fighting or I'll quit' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has warned the country's two ruling populist parties that he will resign if they do not stop fighting. | Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has warned the country's two ruling populist parties that he will resign if they do not stop fighting. |
Mr Conte said the parties must "honour the government's obligations" or he would "simply end my mandate". | Mr Conte said the parties must "honour the government's obligations" or he would "simply end my mandate". |
The fractious year-old coalition of the League and the Five Star Movement are at loggerheads on a range of issues. | The fractious year-old coalition of the League and the Five Star Movement are at loggerheads on a range of issues. |
Italy faces tough decisions on spending and Mr Conte is seeking a clear mandate to continue debt talks with the EU. | Italy faces tough decisions on spending and Mr Conte is seeking a clear mandate to continue debt talks with the EU. |
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, the prime minister urged a "loyal collaboration" from governing ministers and said he wanted "a clear, unequivocal and speedy response". | Speaking at a news conference on Monday, the prime minister urged a "loyal collaboration" from governing ministers and said he wanted "a clear, unequivocal and speedy response". |
On Tuesday, Matteo Salvini, the leader of the right-wing League party, said he had no intention of bringing down the government. | On Tuesday, Matteo Salvini, the leader of the right-wing League party, said he had no intention of bringing down the government. |
He said it was time to push through much-needed reforms - such as greater autonomy for the regions - and that he was ready to discuss such measures with his coalition partners. | He said it was time to push through much-needed reforms - such as greater autonomy for the regions - and that he was ready to discuss such measures with his coalition partners. |
The Five Star Movement's Luigi Di Maio also said he wanted the coalition to survive and that he was ready to "sit down around a table and start working". | The Five Star Movement's Luigi Di Maio also said he wanted the coalition to survive and that he was ready to "sit down around a table and start working". |
"We're ready to discuss the League's proposals for a flat-tax measure and more powers to local governments, we've always said yes to these measures - provided they are done in a certain way," Mr Di Maio told Italian daily Corriere della Sera (in Italian). | "We're ready to discuss the League's proposals for a flat-tax measure and more powers to local governments, we've always said yes to these measures - provided they are done in a certain way," Mr Di Maio told Italian daily Corriere della Sera (in Italian). |
Italy's Ansa news agency later reported that the two leaders had reopened dialogue and had already reached a deal to end a dispute over restrictions to public building projects, which are aimed at boosting the economy. | |
Last week, Mr Salvini said he expected Brussels to impose a hefty fine on the country over its rising debt levels and made a number of controversial comments about the issue in interviews and on social media. | Last week, Mr Salvini said he expected Brussels to impose a hefty fine on the country over its rising debt levels and made a number of controversial comments about the issue in interviews and on social media. |
"At a time when youth unemployment is reaching 50% in some regions, someone in Brussels is asking us, under past rules, for a fine of €3bn (£2.7bn)," he told radio station RTL. | "At a time when youth unemployment is reaching 50% in some regions, someone in Brussels is asking us, under past rules, for a fine of €3bn (£2.7bn)," he told radio station RTL. |
"All my energy will go into changing these rules from the past," he said, adding: "We will see if this little letter from Brussels in which they sanction us for debt accumulated in the past arrives." | "All my energy will go into changing these rules from the past," he said, adding: "We will see if this little letter from Brussels in which they sanction us for debt accumulated in the past arrives." |
But Mr Conte later warned against posting "witticisms" on social media or using the press to send "ambiguous signals" in the pursuit of resolving political issues. | But Mr Conte later warned against posting "witticisms" on social media or using the press to send "ambiguous signals" in the pursuit of resolving political issues. |
"We have been tasked with designing the future of the country, which is different from playing to the gallery and collecting 'likes' on social media," he said. | "We have been tasked with designing the future of the country, which is different from playing to the gallery and collecting 'likes' on social media," he said. |
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