Italy's President Mattarella gives parties five days to form a solid majority and avoid a snap election
Italian President Sergio Mattarella speaks to the press after consultations with political parties' leaders, in Rome, Italy, August 22, 2019.
He said some parties had told him they were trying to form a solid majority and he told them to report back on Tuesday for two more days of consultations. The government collapse was triggered by League leader Matteo Salvini, who declared the ruling coalition dead two weeks ago, saying he could no longer work with 5-Star because of its foot-dragging over the League's economic policy agenda.Salvini called for an election, aiming to cash in on his surging popularity to return to power, this time as prime minister, with a mandate to launch a big spending spree next year and challenge the European Union's fiscal rules.
Many of these, ranging from an investment plan for the poor south to legislation on conflicts of interest and to speed up the justice system, are among 5-Star's flagship policies. It remains to be seen if Zingaretti's tough stance is just a negotiating ploy, or if he is ready to face an election - partly to settle scores in his divided party, where many lawmakers still answer to his predecessor, former prime minister Matteo Renzi.
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