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Italy's M5S seeks centre-left coalition with 'solid majority' Italy's president gives parties four days to form stable government
(about 3 hours later)
The leader of Italy’s anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) has said he is striving for a solid majority with the centre-left Democratic party (PD) after the collapse of its stormy alliance with the far-right League. Italy’s president has given the country’s main political parties four more days to negotiate the formation of an alternative government after the collapse of the stormy alliance between the far-right League and anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S).
“We won’t let the ship sink, or Italians will pay,” Luigi Di Maio said after a meeting with the country’s president, Sergio Mattarella. Sergio Mattarella said on Thursday night that the crisis must be “resolved quickly” and that without a solid majority the only other option would be new elections.
Mattarella met leaders of Italy’s main parties on Thursday to see if an alternative government can be formed after the outgoing prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, ended the M5S-League coalition. The alliance had been on shaky ground since it came to power in June 2018. “But that path cannot be travelled lightly,” he said after a day of meetings with leaders from the League, M5S, the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), Forza Italia and the smaller far-right party, Brothers of Italy.
The collapse was triggered earlier this month by the League leader Matteo Salvini’s call for fresh elections, as he sought to exploit the his party’s growing popularity. Mattarella said he will host new consultations on Tuesday in order to “make the necessary decisions”.
Fearing an M5S-PD alliance that would put paid to his election hopes, Salvini appeared to backtrack after his talks with Mattarella on Thursday. He said he still wanted elections, but that the League could also resume governing with M5S as long as it got things done. “Only governments that obtain the confidence of parliament with group agreements on a programme to govern the country are possible,” he added. “I am told that initiatives have been initiated between parties. I have the duty to request prompt decisions.”
“There was a stalled government that stalled the country. If they want to restart the government and the country, I am here, without looking back … if there’s a different team that get things done, I won’t hold a grudge,” he said. Outgoing prime minister Giuseppe Conte ended the 14-month alliance between the League and M5S on Tuesday after the League’s leader, Matteo Salvini, declared the partnership unworkable earlier this month as he manoeuvred to exploit his high popularity and bring about snap elections.
“An M5S-PD agreement would mean returning to ‘the old politics’. My interest is that Italians have a government that does things … I’m sure Mattarella has and will have all the elements to choose in the best interests of the people and country.” Salvini said he had discovered that some within M5S backed his “brave” budget proposal. But what kind of shape a new majority would take looked more unclear on Thursday afternoon after Nicola Zingaretti, the PD leader, laid down tough conditions for a potential alliance with long-time foe, M5S. Fearing the partnership, Salvini also appeared to backtrack after his talks with Mattarella. He said he still wanted elections, but that the League could also resume governing with M5S as long as it got things done.
M5S and the PD are in talks to come up with a programme that could steer the government through until the end of its legislative term in 2023. “There was a stalled government that stalled the country,” Salvini said. “If they want to restart the government and the country, I am here, without looking back … if there’s a different team that get things done, I won’t hold a grudge. An M5S-PD agreement would mean returning to ‘the old politics’.”
The PD leader, Nicola Zingaretti, who until Wednesday had resisted talk of an alliance with M5S, has outlined five key conditions. They include a change in policy on the management of migrants, a commitment to remaining in the EU, more investment, changes to social and economic policy and a focus on sustainable development. Luigi Di Maio, M5S’s leader, emerged from his talks with Mattarella saying his party was striving for a solid majority, without stipulating with which party.
Zingaretti told reporters after meeting Mattarella on Thursday that he was willing to explore a government with M5S but not at any cost. “We won’t let the ship sink, or Italians will pay,” he said.
After his meeting with Mattarella, Zingaretti said he was willing to explore a government with M5S but not at any cost. One of his conditions would be M5S agreeing to scrap the draconian anti-immigration bill passed with the League. He has also objected to Conte leading their potential alternative government. Other stipulations include a commitment to remaining in the EU, changes to social and economic policy and a focus on sustainable development.
“We need a turning-point government, alternative to the rightist parties, with a new, solid programme, an ample parliamentary base, which will restore hope to Italians,” he said. “If these conditions do not exist, the natural outcome of the crisis is an early election for which the PD is ready.”“We need a turning-point government, alternative to the rightist parties, with a new, solid programme, an ample parliamentary base, which will restore hope to Italians,” he said. “If these conditions do not exist, the natural outcome of the crisis is an early election for which the PD is ready.”
Mattarella could give the parties a few more days to negotiate if he is convinced they can form a strong government. They would need to nominate a prime minister by Monday.
Italian media reported on Thursday that Mattarella would probably opt for early elections if M5S and the PD failed to come to an agreement.
ItalyItaly
Five Star MovementFive Star Movement
EuropeEurope
Luigi Di MaioLuigi Di Maio
Matteo SalviniMatteo Salvini
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