Govt won't collapse, will last five years - Di Maio

(ANSA) - Rome, February 13 - Deputy Premier and Labour and Industry Minister Luigi Di Maio said Wednesday that there is no danger of the 5-Star Movement-League coalition government collapsing. The alliance is reportedly under stress after the League spearheaded the centre right to victory in regional elections in Abruzzo on Sunday, while the M5S, which ran alone, came a disappointing third. "Our members voted for the contract of government and I gave my word to the Italian people that we would go all the way," M5S leader Di Maio said on the movement's blog. "This government will last five years and it will inspire other European governments.
   The 5-Star Movement (M5S) is not finished, Di Maio said Wednesday denying media comment to that effect after its vote in Abruzzo regional elections was halved. "Every time that the M5S gets a lower result in local elections than what it got in the general election there are those who speak of nothing but its imminent end," he said.
"All you have to do is look at the data. At June's municipal elections in 2017 we got an average of 7.8% and then 33% in the general election (last March 4).
"In June 2018 we got an average of 12% at the municipals. So they should put their minds at rest because it's not so".
Di Maio added that the M5S was the "only bulwark against Berlusconi".
This prompted his government partner, League leader Matteo Salvini, to say that the government was "strong and stable and does not need any bulwarks against anyone".