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Italy's Head of State Opens Formal Consultations with Political Parties

Sabina Castelfranco

   ROME - Italy's president begins consultations on Wednesday on seeing if
   there is any way another working coalition government can be formed
   following Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's resignation. The head of
   state wants to see if he can avoid dissolving parliament
   three-and-a-half years ahead of schedule. If not, the country will hold
   a snap general election in the fall.

   President Sergio Mattarella is scheduled to meet all of the country's
   political parties to see if a new coalition can be formed that will
   allow the present parliament, elected in March 2018, to continue to
   sit. The consultations follow the resignation of Prime Minister
   Giuseppe Conte, which he announced in the upper house of parliament
   Tuesday afternoon.

   Conte said the decision of the League party which requested a
   no-confidence vote on the government had forced him to interrupt this
   government experience. Conte accused the League party leader and the
   country's interior minister, Matteo Salvini, of bringing down the
   ruling coalition for personal and political gain.

   Some two weeks ago, Salvini declared the coalition unworkable and
   called for a snap general election. Addressing the senators, Conte
   attacked what he called Salvini's irresponsible and reckless behavior,
   saying it was "liable to tip the country into a spiral of political
   uncertainty and financial instability."

   Conte said Salvini took on a huge responsibility promoting this
   government crisis.

   The outgoing prime minister said he was worried by Salvini's demand for
   "full powers" and his threat to call people into the country's squares
   if his drive for elections was thwarted.

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