A leading dissident from within Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia (FI) said Monday disappointing local-election results in the northern cities of Trento and Bolzano prove the time has come for new leadership.
"We're under 4%...and I believe this is emblematic," said Raffaele Fitto, an MEP and a former confidant of Berlusconi.
"I believe refounding the center right has become necessary".
The center right under Berlusconi's leadership "is rather outdated", Fitto added. Also on Monday, FI's political adviser Giovanni Toti called for a commissioner to be named "as soon as possible" after "disappointing" results in Trentino Alto Adige.
"I believe (the results) stem from inadequate campaign platforms, infighting, and...the total incapacity of our local political leadership," Toti said.
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