Stalemate leading Italy to repeat of parliamentary elections

Italy’s two largest political parties have rejected a call by President Sergio Mattarella to agree to a “neutral government,” leading the country toward a possible repeat of parliamentary elections.

President Sergio Mattarella said in a televised statement on Monday that there was no hope for a coalition deal. He urged the country’s parties to rally behind a “neutral government” that he said he would appoint this week but said the only alternative would be a swift re-vote following the inconclusive elections in March.

“Let the parties decide of their own free will if they should give full powers to a government... or else new elections [should be held] immediately in the month of July or the fall,” Mattarella said.

However, Italy’s two largest parties, the far-right League and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement — which have enough seats between them in parliament to prevent any government from winning the confidence votes needed to take office — rapidly expressed their opposition to the proposal.

“[We have] no faith in a ‘neutral government,’ which is synonymous with a government of technocrats. We are going to vote in July,” the head of 5-Star, Luigi Di Maio, tweeted.

League leader Matteo Salvini made similar remarks. “There is no time to lose; there is no space for a technocrat government,” he said.

Italy has been stuck in political limbo since the March 4 elections, in which no single party secured a majority.

SS