The centre-left Democratic Party
(PD) should talk to the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S)
about forming a new government "without prejudice", PD
heavyweight and Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said in a
newspaper interview Tuesday.
The M5S's Lower House Speaker, Roberto Fico, on Monday
received an exploratory mandate from President Sergio Mattarella
to sound out the possibility of a government between the M5S and
the PD, which have been traditional opponents.
The majority of the PD, loyal to ex-premier and former leader
Matteo Renzi, are against all talk of an alliance.
But Franceschini told La Repubblica that the PD has the
"obligation" to talk to the M5S "without prejudice", keeping the
party "united" starting with its "most influential" leader,
Renzi.
Renzi quit after the PD slumped to its worst-ever showing,
18%, in the March 4 general election - where the M5s became the
biggest single party with 32% and the centre right with 37% the
biggest coalition.
Franceschini told La Repubblica that the PD must "go and see
the (M5S) papers" and assess the feasibility of a
government-formation accord.
As for the possibility of accepting M5S leader Luigi Di Maio
as premier, Franceschini stressed to the Rome daily "let's take
it gradually".
He said "let's see the programmes and also how we might
achieve an agreement".
Now that the country has been "saved from a populist and
sovereignist government" after a possible M5S alliance with the
anti-migrant Euroskeptic League of Matteo Salvini was scotched,
Franceschini said, "the mandate for Fico puts a new question to
the PD".
He said "we are called to a trial of responsibility" and
urged the party to "put its proposals into the field, as
(caretaker leader Maurizio) Martina has done" with three
proposals on poverty, families and work.
photo: Franceschini (R) with Martina
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
