Is Italy heading to fresh elections in July?

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President Sergio Mattarella called on Monday for Italy's bickering parties to rally behind a "neutral government," saying the only alternative would be a swift re-vote after March's inconclusive election.

However, Italy's two largest parties, the far-right League and anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, rapidly came out against the proposal, raising the likelihood of an unprecedented immediate return to the polls, even as early as July.

Italy has been stuck in political limbo since the March 4 ballot, which saw 5-Star emerge as the single largest group while an alliance of rightist parties, including the anti-immigrant League, took the most seats. But both fell short of an absolute majority.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella addresses journalists after consultations with political parties at the Quirinale Palace in Rome, May 7, 2018. /VCG Photo

After a third round of consultations with all the main party leaders, Mattarella conceded on Monday that there was no room for a coalition deal in the eurozone's third largest economy.

The Italian president called on the warring parties to show "responsibility" and support his as yet unnamed government, without which he said he would convene elections in July or in the autumn.

"The parties need to choose, we can't wait any longer," said Mattarella, who is expected to announce who he would like to lead the non-partisan administration some time before Friday. He warned that a new vote might easily throw up another inconclusive result.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella meets Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi (R) at the Quirinale Palace in Rome, Italy, May 7, 2018. /Reuters Photo

The president outlined an administration that would help Italy maintain its international obligations, including June's European Council meeting, and approve the country's 2019 budget.

The "neutral" administration would resign in December to open the way for elections in the spring – when all post-war votes have been held in Italy.

'No space for technocrat government'

Yet parliamentary approval for the government proposed by Mattarella looks unlikely, as both 5-Star and League parties insisted on July elections.

"(We have) no faith in a "neutral government", which is synonymous with a government of technocrats. We are going to vote in July," 5-Star chief Luigi Di Maio wrote on Twitter.

Anti-establishment 5-Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio (R2) speaks to the media at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, May 7, 2018. /Reuters Photo

League leader Matteo Salvini echoed the sentiment: "There is no time to lose. There is no space for technocrat government."

Salvini stressed that "it's either a center-right government or elections as soon as possible."

Both the League and 5-Star have enough seats between them in parliament to prevent any government from winning the confidence votes needed to take office.

Di Maio has previously said he would be ready to form a government with the League. However, he has refused to enter into any coalition deal with the League's main ally, the Forza Italia party led by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, whom 5-Star considers a symbol of political corruption.

Salvini has refused to abandon Berlusconi, saying that would break his word with voters after they had stood together at the polls and presented a common manifesto.

League leader Matteo Salvini (L) speaks as Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi (R) looks on during a news conference at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, May 7, 2018. /VCG Photo

In a statement, Berlusconi's Forza Italia party said it wanted to discuss the situation with its allies and warned against a rush to the ballot box in July.

YouTrend pollsters said that, under Italian law, the earliest likely date for an election would be July 22, a time when many people will have left for their summer holidays, which could have a major impact on the outcome.

"We are not afraid of an election, but a summer (vote) does not help turnout. Autumn is better," Forza Italia said.

The only major political force to support Mattarella's idea was acting leader of the center-left Democratic Party (PD), whose acting leader Maurizio Martina echoed "the president's call for responsibility."

Whatever path the parties chose, Mattarella said Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni's caretaker government had reached the end of its life, indicating he would appoint a new administration even if it could not win parliamentary backing.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters