Italian President Sergio Mattarella will start his process to form a new coalition government, after Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte formally resigned yesterday. Mattarella is believed to be pushing for a quick decision by the 5-Star Movement and Democratic Party on whether they can work together.
Mattarella will start consultations with minor groups at 1400GMT today, followed by all main parties tomorrow and a conclusion with 5-STar at 1500GMT. Failing to form a new coalition, he would have to dissolve parliament, 3-1/2 years ahead of schedule, to allow for elections in late October or early November.
The turmoil League party chief Matteo Salvini declared on August 8 that his alliance with the 5-Star Movement was dead and called for elections. Yet, at the end of yesterday’s parliamentary debate the League withdrew the no-confidence vote in the government that it had tabled.
