Italian political leaders were plunged into crisis talks on Thursday as mounting tensions within the governing coalition fuelled speculation that the country’s ruling alliance could collapse.
Prime minister Giuseppe Conte met President Sergio Mattarella and then saw Matteo Salvini, deputy prime minister and leader of the rightwing League.
Relations between the two coalition partners — the League and anti-establishment Five Star move
ment — deteriorated on Wednesday after Five Star voted against a motion on the trans-alpine highspeed rail link with France, a project which is supported by the League.
On Thursday Mr Salvini and fellow deputy prime minister Luigi Di Maio cancelled appointments and Mr Conte cancelled a press conference and went to the Quirinale, the president’s office, where he stayed for about an hour.
In a statement published on Thursday afternoon, the League said that new elections were “the only alternative to this government”.
According to the League’s statement, there are “different visions [between 5 Star and the League] on fundamental issues such as public works, infrastructure and development, fiscal shocks, autonomy of the regions, energy, justice and relations with Europe”.
The League said: “Italy needs certainty and courageous, shared decisions: it is useless to go on amid delays, blocks and daily fights. Every day that passes is a lost day, for us the only alternative to this government is to give back the decision to the Italians with new elections.”
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
