Di Maio denies Premiership intentions as discussion on new government comes to a halt
Update: A scheduled meeting between the PD and M5s was cancelled in view of the fact that there seem to be an issue on the appointment of Giuseppe Conte. The situation changed from what seemed to be a plausible possibility to a blocking hurdle.
M5S said that the PD seems confused and that without an agreement on Conte’s appointment for Premiership there’s no room for discussion.
Luigi Di Maio denied that he had asked to be head of Italy’s government, contrary to what was reported earlier. TgCom
An agreement to form a new Italian government looked within reach between the center-left Democratic Party and populist 5Star Movement, officials said Monday as the president prepared to launch marathon talks Tuesday aimed at solving the government crisis.
POLITICO reports that two officials from the Democratic Party (PD) said talks were moving along after a brief meeting between the two party leaders Monday afternoon, and a deal would include agreement on reappointing Giuseppe Conte as prime minister.
UPDATE: While the Conte’s stumbling block seems to be superseded, Italian media reported that one of the main issues seems to be the new Italian budget. In comments to the media, after a four-hour session meeting, M5S indicated that the main stumbling remains the budget. Following this would be the appointment of ministers.
Di Maio (M5S) and Zingaretti (PD) will be meeting later on Tuesday to try to iron out difference on the agreed government programme.
Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, President Sergio Mattarella is on Tuesday set to begin a new 36-hour-long round of consultations with political groups to try to find a way out of the current political crisis.
These are the reports on the Italian Government discussions on the Italian media:
Rai – Governo, a Palazzo Chigi lungo incontro Di Maio-Zingaretti-Conte
Corriere Della Sera – Il Pd: «Divergenze sul programma»
SkyTg24 – Crisi, nuovo vertice M5S-Pd-Conte. Il segretario Dem: confronto per un governo di svolta
