Thursday is a crunch day for
Italy's government-formation or election consultations as
President Sergio Mattarella meets the big parties to map a way
forward.
The head of State met the centre-left Democratic Party (PD)
at 11 o'clock while he will wind up his consultations with the
anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) at five o'clock.
PD leader Nicola Zingaretti said the PD was open to a
"turning-point government" with the M5S or else early elections
in late October.
Zingaretti on Wednesday laid down five conditions for a
possible government with the M5S, their former fierce foes.
These include a change from the tough anti-migrant policies
of League leader Matteo Salvini, who pulled the plug on a
14-month executive with the M5S accusing them of inaction on
August 8.
Mattarella will also meet the other centre-right party,
Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia (FI), at noon.
He has already seen Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI),
which reiterated that the only option was a rapid general
election.
M5S leader Luigi Di Maio has said he will reply to the PD's
offer once he has seen Mattarella.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
