Italy's gov't talks: Populist Di Maio fires ultimatum

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Italy's anti-establishment party leader Luigi Di Maio Wednesday gave far-right leader Matteo Salvini until the "end of the week" to dump coalition ally Silvio Berlusconi and strike a deal in the latest round of Italian government talks.

Earlier, Italian President Sergio Mattarella tasked Senate speaker Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati with brokering an agreement by Friday between Di Maio's Five Star Movement (M5S) and Salvini's nationalist League party, which leads a right-wing coalition that contains Berlusconi's Forza Italia. The pair are vying to lead the country out of weeks of political deadlock that has emerged from the inconclusive March 4 general election.

Italy's Five Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio. /VCG Photo

The third round of consultations centers on Di Maio's refusal to deal with Berlusconi, whom the M5S sees as a symbol of political corruption, and the 81-year-old media magnate's distaste for the "anti-democratic" M5S.

After meeting the Senate speaker on Wednesday afternoon, Di Maio dug his heels in, calling Salvini's right-wing grouping "an electoral gimmick" and demanding that he come to the negotiating table alone.

"I expect a definitive response (from Salvini) by the end of the week," Di Maio told reporters. "The country can't wait any longer."

Italian police remove a painting by street artist Sirante showing Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi (L), League leader Matteo Salvini (C) and Five Star Mouvement ( M5S ) leader Luigi Di Maio in Rome, April 13, 2018. /VCG Photo

German-style deal?

Di Maio, 31, wants to create a German-style "government contract" with the League. "The only forces capable of signing this contract and forming a government in these consultations are the M5S and the League," he added.

Alberti Casellati is an ally of former Prime Minister Berlusconi, and her election as the first-ever female Senate speaker was part of a pact that aimed to smooth the path to an alliance between the M5S and the League. They have been battling over who should lead the government since the M5S became Italy's largest single party at the polls with just under 33 percent of the vote and the right picked up 37 percent.

Despite Di Maio's pressure, Salvini has refused to break up the grouping that won the most number of seats in the parliament and has given him a chance of becoming prime minister.

Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi (R) and League party leader Matteo Salvini speak following a talk with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale palace in Rome, Italy, April 12, 2018. /VCG Photo

"I don't see respect for the people's vote. The one that came second dictating the rules to the one that came first," Salvini said.

Di Maio's ultimatum is designed to put pressure on Salvini, who is eyeing elections on April 29 in the northeastern region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, where a League candidate backed by Forza Italia is favorite to win.

It also opens the door to potential future talks with center-left Democratic Party (PD), who are not involved in this round of consultations after their coalition came third and subsequently refused to deal with either the right or M5S.

Berlusconi on Wednesday assured that he had not vetoed any alliance with the M5S and hinted that there might be a new round of talks with the Senate speaker on Thursday.

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Source(s): AFP