League leader Matteo Salvini was
"irresponsible and opportunist" and showed a "grave lack of
constitutional culture" in triggering a government crisis solely
to cash in on surging poll numbers, Premier Giuseppe Conte said
Tuesday, saying the government's action stops here".
The timing of the crisis, he went on, showed "political
opportunism" and Salvini made a "gesture of institutional
imprudence".
The League's "drumming" about new elections was "offensive
for the activity of the government," he added.
He said Salvini had sought "a pretext for the crisis" in the
5-Star Movement's opposition to a French rail link after the
League scored highly in the recent European elections.
He said Salvini was "concerning" in his conception of
managing power by "rabble-rousing" people in the streets.
Conte also said Italy's Constitution precluded "authoritarian
methods", referring to Salvini's controversial call for the
people to grant him "full powers" in a snap vote.
In Europe, he said, Salvini's "contrarian" views had sparked
"confusion".
He said Salvini did not have a "sense of the rules" and said
he should have addressed parliament on a case of the League
allegedly seeking Russian funding.
Conte also criticised Salvini for brandishing rosaries and
other religious symbols while announcing policy moves such as a
crackdown on migrants.
"Your use of religious symbols is unconscionable", he said.
Conte said "the ongoing (government) crisis compromises the
action of this government, which stops here.
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