Former industry minister Carlo Calenda
is expected to announce on Monday whether his centrist Azione
group will enter into a pact with the centre-left Democratic
Party for the September 25 general election.
Calenda, whose party has the support of around 5% of the
electorate, according to polls, is expected to snub the possible
alliance, sources say.
This is because he is unwilling to be part of the same coalition
that also features figures on the left of Italy's political
spectrum and former members of the 5-Star Movement (M5S), such
as Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, according to the sources.
Azione is, however, expected to form an alliance with the Italia
Viva (IV) party of ex-premier Matteo Renzi, who has said he is
ready to run alone if necessary.
IV is currently polling at around 2-3%.
PD leader Enrico Letta said that the formation of a "third poll"
in the centre would "help the right".
The right/centre-right coalition of the Brothers of Italy (FdI)
party led by Giorgia Meloni, ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's
Forza Italia (FI) and Matteo Salvini's League looks in a strong
position to win the election, according to opinion polls.
The right/centre-right's chances appear to have been further
boosted by the fact that the other parties are not joining
forces.
The M5S looks set to run alone as the PD have ruled out an
electoral pact after it triggered the crisis of government that
led to the collapse of outgoing Premier Mario Draghi's ruling
coalition.
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