President Sergio Mattarella on
Monday handed Lower House Speaker Roberto Fico an exploratory
mandate to explore the possibility of a government-formation
deal between his anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) and
the centre-left democratic Party (PD) - a deal that was
immediately rejected by PD Chair Matteo Orfini, although M5S
leader Luigi Di Maio said he was optimistic.
PD caretaker leader Maurizio Martina said, however, that the
PD would hear what the M5S has to say as long as its alleged
"ambiguous" stance of negotiating at the same time with the
rightwing populist League was now at an end.
Mattarella gave Fico until Thursday to report back on the
possibility of an M5S-PD government.
"The president of the Republic conferred on House Speaker
Roberto Fico the task of verifying an agreement for a
parliamentary majority between the 5-Star Movement and the PD to
constitute a government," said presidency Secretary-General Ugo
Zampetti after talks between Mattarella and Fico.
Fico said would "start work straight away" on his mandate.
"In my view the fundamental point is to start from the issues
that interest the country and the programme for the country's
interest", he said.
Asked if he felt a sense of responsibility after receiving
the mandate, Fico replied "certainly".
Mattarella had told Fico Monday that "at a distance of almost
two months from the March 4 elections we must underline the duty
of giving Italy a government as soon as possible", sources said.
Fico went on to see Premier Paolo Gentiloni, a leading member
of the PD.
Orfini, the PD chair, said the PD "was, is and will remain"
alternative to the M5S, scotching chances for a deal.
"We will obviously listen to Fico with respect and attention,
with respect both for him and the function he represents," said
Orfini.
"But my opinion remains that of the previous days: we were,
we are and we will remain alternative to the Five Stars for
political culture, programmes and ideas of democracy.
"Therefore the conditions for a political accord between the
PD and the M5S do no exist.
"We have always said that and we reiterate it on the merits
of the case".
But PD caretaker leader Maurizio Martina said Monday he
agreed to government-formation talks with the M5S if the M5S's
alleged "ambiguity" was over.
"We will talk to Speaker Fico with a spirit of loyal
collaboration according to the mandate he got from President
Mattarella," Martina said.
"We will do so with seriousness and coherence starting from a
fundamental and priority question: the end of all ambiguity and
parallel negotiations with us and with the League and the centre
right. Out of respect for the Italians, after 50 days of to-ing
and fro-ing, we need total clarity on this".
But Di Maio, the M5S leader, said he accepted President
Mattarella's request to talk to the PD on forming a possible
government.
He said he would soon meet with Fico "to assess the
possibility of this course, considering that on the other side
they didn't want to listen to their own voters who asked (League
leader Matteo) Salvini to take this step."
He added: "this is the decisive week and I'm very optimistic"
because "it will not be an alliance: what was valid for the
League is valid for the PD. The conditions have not changed".
Di Maio told Salvini that he had tried and failed to get a
government deal with him, and wished him good luck.
"From his conduct I realised that Salvini doesn't want to
assume the responsibility of government. I sincerely don't
understand why he prefers to be in opposition for the good of
his allies, instead of going into government for the good of
Italians....Let it not be said that I didn't try up to the end,
now good luck (to him)".
On Friday Mattarella said he was taking two days to reflect
after Senate Speaker Maria Elisabetta Casellati failed to make a
breakthrough last week with an exploratory mandate he gave her.
Casellati's mandate involved verifying the possibility of
forming a government made up of the centre right, the coalition
that came first in last month's inconclusive general election,
and the M5S, the biggest single party in the new parliament.
But the M5S reiterated that it was against forming a
government with the centre right as a whole and was only willing
to hold talks with the League, not with its alliance partners -
Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia and the rightwing Brothers of
Italy (FdI) party.
The PD is reeling after recording its worst-ever showing in
last month's inconclusive vote, which prompted the resignation
of leader and ex-premier Matteo Renzi, and has said it will be
in the opposition in the new parliament.
However, PD minority leaders have come out against caretaker
leader Maurizio Martina's insistence on respecting Renzi's call
to opposition.
Most of the party is still loyal to Renzi, who is now just a
plain Senator.
Mattarella said Monday that "I waited another three days to
register possible public, explicit and significant developments
in the talks between (the M5S and League) parties.
"These developments did not emerge".
League leader Matteo Salvini said Fico's mandate is "taking
the mickey".
Referring to the PD, he said "they lost in Italy, they lost
Molise, if you give us a hand they will super-lose on Sunday in
Friuli Venezia Giulia," he said.
"I don't want to see Renzi, Serracchiani or Boschi in
government for the next five years. It's not right, it's not
normal, it isn't respectful".
He said "you always have to respect the indications of the
president, etc., etc., but I'll do my all so that this
mickey-take doesn't happen".
Salvini said on the stump for a regional vote in Friuli that
"for the government we could do the same thing that you have
done with (post-quake) reconstruction: if those with whom you're
supposed to rebuild start quarrelling and don't come to an
agreement, in the end we can roll up our sleeves and try to go
it alone".
Salvini added, threateningly, "if we are excluded we will go
on a trip to Rome".
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