President Sergio Mattarella is set
to start consultations with political parties Wednesday aimed at
seeing if there is a majority behind a new government or
elections after Premier Giuseppe Conte resigned Tuesday after
nationalist League leader Matteo Salvini pulled the plug August
8 on a 14-month populist coalition with the anti-establishment
5-Star Movement (M5S).
There is a possibility of the M5S teaming up with former foes
the centre-left Democratic Party (PD).
If they do not agree to form a coalition, the other options
include a short technical government to steer the country
towards a general election, or an election possibly as early as
the end of October.
The M5S-PD alliance faces strong opposition from many in both
parties, which were hitherto sworn enemies and have major policy
differences.
Mattarella will start the consultations at 16:00 Wednesday
with the parliamentary speakers.
He will go on to consult the major parties, including the
M5S, the PD and the League, on Thursday.
The president is said to want a swift resolution of the
government crisis.
The next government will be tasked with passing a 2021 budget
and averting a 23-billion euro VAT hike that would worsen an
already struggling economy.
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