Italian PD leader Zingaretti calls for full-term government or elections
6162 Mins Read
Centre-left Democratic Party (PD) leader Nicola Zingaretti on Wednesday called for a government fit to last the remaining three years of the legislative term, saying that if that were not possible, then the only other option was a general election.
Speaking ahead of government consultations with President Sergio Mattarella Thursday, Zingaretti said after a PD summit thaqt “a possible new government must be a turning point, lasting the term, or it is better to go to the polls”.
Mattarella is set to consult all parties on the way forward after Premier Giuseppe Conte resigned after nationalist League leader Matteo Salvini pulled the plug on a 14-month alliance with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S).
He will talk to the PD and the M5S separately on Thursday and if they both come out in favour of a long-term government he may give the green light to a premier-designate to explore that possibility.
Zingaretti laid down five points to discuss with the M5S: “loyal membership of the European Union; full recognition of representative democracy, starting from the central role of parliament; development based on environmental sustainability, a change in the management of migrant flows, with Europe as a full protagonist; and a turning point on economic and social recipes, in a redistributive line, which will open a season of investments.” It is uncertain whether the M5S will accept these terms.
The PD directorate gave Zingaretti a mandate to open talks to verify the possibility of being part of a new government.
The motion granting the mandate was approved unanimously.
Zingaretti said “I have never demonised the M5S, but we must recognise that there are profound differences with them”.
