Italian PM Resigns, New Coalition Formed

[Shrillland]

Italy's PM, Giuseppe Conte, has resigned his post after his Interior Minister and La Lega leader Matteo Salvini, decided to suddenly break up the governing coalition with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement(M5S) and trigger a no-confidence vote.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/d-day-italian-government-pm-conte-resignation-mooted-023109857.html

World
Italy in limbo after PM Conte attacks Salvini and resigns
AFP Charles ONIANS,AFP 1 hour 58 minutes ago
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Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he was ending the government (AFP Photo/Andreas SOLARO)
Rome (AFP) - Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned on Tuesday after lashing out at far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini for pursuing his own interests by pulling the plug on the government coalition.

The move leaves the eurozone's third largest economy in a political vacuum until President Sergio Mattarella decides whether to form a new coalition or call an election after talks with parties in the coming days.

Mattarella charged Conte with heading a caretaker administration after he handed in his resignation, pending consultations on a new government which are set to begin at 1400 GMT on Wednesday.

"I'm ending this government experience here," Conte said after an almost hour-long speech to the Senate.

"It is irresponsible to initiate a government crisis," Conte said after Salvini tried to bring down the government in the hope of snap elections he believes will make him premier.

Conte was speaking following a week of fallout from Salvini's decision to back out of the alliance between his League party and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement on August 8, plunging Italy into political turmoil.

After Conte announced his intention to resign, Senate speaker Elisabette Casellati told Salvini to leave the government bench and join his party's senators, where Salvini said: "Thank you, finally, I would do it all again."

- Full powers -

"The Italians vote with their heads and hearts," Salvini said, invoking the Virgin Mary to "protect the Italian people" and repeating his call for snap elections while also making a final appeal to M5S.

Caught on the back foot, Salvini last week made the surprise offer to back a key M5S proposal to cut the number of lawmakers from 950 to 605, but only if new elections were then swiftly held.

"Making citizens vote is the essence of democracy, asking them to vote every year is irresponsible," Conte said as League senators booed and hissed.

"I heard you calling for 'full powers' and invoke (demonstrations in) the piazzas to support you, which worries me," Conte said.

Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in 1922 assumed so-called full powers to govern the country at his whim.

After more than four hours of debate, Conte returned to speak before going to Mattarella's office at the Quirinale Palace.

"If there was a lack of courage, then I assume responsibility before the country," Conte told the Senate as Salvini fidgeted nervously.

"And I note that the leader of the League who has struggled with loyal cooperation lacked the courage to assume responsibility for his behaviour," Conte said.

The end of the 14-month-old coalition government opens the way for Mattarella to begin consultations with political parties, with a range of options available.

A snap election, the forming of a new coalition without holding a new vote, and, although unlikely, the continuation of the current government would all be considered.

- Debt-laden economy -

The political crisis has raised concerns about the Italian economy, whose debt ratio at 132 percent of gross domestic product is the second-biggest in the eurozone after Greece.

Since the unwieldy government was formed in June 2018, uncertainty under the coalition has cost the country an extra five billion euros ($5.54 billion) in interest on its debt.

Salvini's plan for a snap election -- more than three years early -- had envisioned a vote in October followed by him being crowned as prime minister.

According to opinion polls, the League could form a coalition with the anti-immigration, anti-LGBT Brothers of Italy, and possibly Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia.

But a bid by his rivals to put aside their differences and forge an alliance could derail Salvini's plan, with a coalition between M5S and the opposition centre-left Democratic Party (PD) being discussed.

While there is bad blood between the two parties, M5S is languishing in the polls and wants to avoid an early election.

Former PD premier Matteo Renzi on Tuesday said that he "would not be part" of a PD-M5S alliance, as many in the anti-establishment party resent him as part of the old elite.

According to some analysts, Conte could also stay on as premier while trying to form an alliance with PD.

With no likely governing coalition and La Lega's polling numbers up at 38%(twice of what they were when the government was formed), Salvini's trying to bring down the government in the hopes that he can have a right wing coalition governing Italy by the year's end. And yes, this may become an election thread should one be called.

So, NSG? What's your view on this turn of events?

I understand Salvini wanting to do this to an extent, M5S has all but collapsed in terms of popular support, but La Lega scares me.

[Bienenhalde]

Italy's PM and member of La Lega, Giuseppe Conte

Isn't Conte an independent technocrat who was appointed as a compromise between the two coalition parties?

[Shrillland]

Italy's PM and member of La Lega, Giuseppe Conte

Isn't Conte an independent technocrat who was appointed as a compromise between the two coalition parties?

Oops, I'll correct that...

[Greater vakolicci haven]

This is why technocracy is a bad idea.

[Farnhamia]

Italy's PM, Giuseppe Conte, has resigned his post after his Interior Minister and La Lega leader Matteo Salvini, decided to suddenly break up the governing coalition with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement(M5S) and trigger a no-confidence vote.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/d-day-italian-government-pm-conte-resignation-mooted-023109857.html

World
Italy in limbo after PM Conte attacks Salvini and resigns
AFP Charles ONIANS,AFP 1 hour 58 minutes ago
Reactions Reblog on Tumblr Share Tweet Email

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he was ending the government (AFP Photo/Andreas SOLARO)
Rome (AFP) - Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned on Tuesday after lashing out at far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini for pursuing his own interests by pulling the plug on the government coalition.

The move leaves the eurozone's third largest economy in a political vacuum until President Sergio Mattarella decides whether to form a new coalition or call an election after talks with parties in the coming days.

Mattarella charged Conte with heading a caretaker administration after he handed in his resignation, pending consultations on a new government which are set to begin at 1400 GMT on Wednesday.

"I'm ending this government experience here," Conte said after an almost hour-long speech to the Senate.

"It is irresponsible to initiate a government crisis," Conte said after Salvini tried to bring down the government in the hope of snap elections he believes will make him premier.

Conte was speaking following a week of fallout from Salvini's decision to back out of the alliance between his League party and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement on August 8, plunging Italy into political turmoil.

After Conte announced his intention to resign, Senate speaker Elisabette Casellati told Salvini to leave the government bench and join his party's senators, where Salvini said: "Thank you, finally, I would do it all again."

- Full powers -

"The Italians vote with their heads and hearts," Salvini said, invoking the Virgin Mary to "protect the Italian people" and repeating his call for snap elections while also making a final appeal to M5S.

Caught on the back foot, Salvini last week made the surprise offer to back a key M5S proposal to cut the number of lawmakers from 950 to 605, but only if new elections were then swiftly held.

"Making citizens vote is the essence of democracy, asking them to vote every year is irresponsible," Conte said as League senators booed and hissed.

"I heard you calling for 'full powers' and invoke (demonstrations in) the piazzas to support you, which worries me," Conte said.

Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in 1922 assumed so-called full powers to govern the country at his whim.

After more than four hours of debate, Conte returned to speak before going to Mattarella's office at the Quirinale Palace.

"If there was a lack of courage, then I assume responsibility before the country," Conte told the Senate as Salvini fidgeted nervously.

"And I note that the leader of the League who has struggled with loyal cooperation lacked the courage to assume responsibility for his behaviour," Conte said.

The end of the 14-month-old coalition government opens the way for Mattarella to begin consultations with political parties, with a range of options available.

A snap election, the forming of a new coalition without holding a new vote, and, although unlikely, the continuation of the current government would all be considered.

- Debt-laden economy -

The political crisis has raised concerns about the Italian economy, whose debt ratio at 132 percent of gross domestic product is the second-biggest in the eurozone after Greece.

Since the unwieldy government was formed in June 2018, uncertainty under the coalition has cost the country an extra five billion euros ($5.54 billion) in interest on its debt.

Salvini's plan for a snap election -- more than three years early -- had envisioned a vote in October followed by him being crowned as prime minister.

According to opinion polls, the League could form a coalition with the anti-immigration, anti-LGBT Brothers of Italy, and possibly Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia.

But a bid by his rivals to put aside their differences and forge an alliance could derail Salvini's plan, with a coalition between M5S and the opposition centre-left Democratic Party (PD) being discussed.

While there is bad blood between the two parties, M5S is languishing in the polls and wants to avoid an early election.

Former PD premier Matteo Renzi on Tuesday said that he "would not be part" of a PD-M5S alliance, as many in the anti-establishment party resent him as part of the old elite.

According to some analysts, Conte could also stay on as premier while trying to form an alliance with PD.

With no likely governing coalition and La Lega's polling numbers up at 38%(twice of what they were when the government was formed), Salvini's trying to bring down the government in the hopes that he can have a right wing coalition governing Italy by the year's end. And yes, this may become an election thread should one be called.

So, NSG? What's your view on this turn of events?

I understand Salvini wanting to do this to an extent, M5S has all but collapsed in terms of popular support, but La Lega scares me.

So ... do you have a news service that sends you a notification every time someone even whispers the word "Election"?

[Telconi]

Italy's PM, Giuseppe Conte, has resigned his post after his Interior Minister and La Lega leader Matteo Salvini, decided to suddenly break up the governing coalition with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement(M5S) and trigger a no-confidence vote.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/d-day-italian-government-pm-conte-resignation-mooted-023109857.html

World
Italy in limbo after PM Conte attacks Salvini and resigns
AFP Charles ONIANS,AFP 1 hour 58 minutes ago
Reactions Reblog on Tumblr Share Tweet Email

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he was ending the government (AFP Photo/Andreas SOLARO)
Rome (AFP) - Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned on Tuesday after lashing out at far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini for pursuing his own interests by pulling the plug on the government coalition.

The move leaves the eurozone's third largest economy in a political vacuum until President Sergio Mattarella decides whether to form a new coalition or call an election after talks with parties in the coming days.

Mattarella charged Conte with heading a caretaker administration after he handed in his resignation, pending consultations on a new government which are set to begin at 1400 GMT on Wednesday.

"I'm ending this government experience here," Conte said after an almost hour-long speech to the Senate.

"It is irresponsible to initiate a government crisis," Conte said after Salvini tried to bring down the government in the hope of snap elections he believes will make him premier.

Conte was speaking following a week of fallout from Salvini's decision to back out of the alliance between his League party and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement on August 8, plunging Italy into political turmoil.

After Conte announced his intention to resign, Senate speaker Elisabette Casellati told Salvini to leave the government bench and join his party's senators, where Salvini said: "Thank you, finally, I would do it all again."

- Full powers -

"The Italians vote with their heads and hearts," Salvini said, invoking the Virgin Mary to "protect the Italian people" and repeating his call for snap elections while also making a final appeal to M5S.

Caught on the back foot, Salvini last week made the surprise offer to back a key M5S proposal to cut the number of lawmakers from 950 to 605, but only if new elections were then swiftly held.

"Making citizens vote is the essence of democracy, asking them to vote every year is irresponsible," Conte said as League senators booed and hissed.

"I heard you calling for 'full powers' and invoke (demonstrations in) the piazzas to support you, which worries me," Conte said.

Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in 1922 assumed so-called full powers to govern the country at his whim.

After more than four hours of debate, Conte returned to speak before going to Mattarella's office at the Quirinale Palace.

"If there was a lack of courage, then I assume responsibility before the country," Conte told the Senate as Salvini fidgeted nervously.

"And I note that the leader of the League who has struggled with loyal cooperation lacked the courage to assume responsibility for his behaviour," Conte said.

The end of the 14-month-old coalition government opens the way for Mattarella to begin consultations with political parties, with a range of options available.

A snap election, the forming of a new coalition without holding a new vote, and, although unlikely, the continuation of the current government would all be considered.

- Debt-laden economy -

The political crisis has raised concerns about the Italian economy, whose debt ratio at 132 percent of gross domestic product is the second-biggest in the eurozone after Greece.

Since the unwieldy government was formed in June 2018, uncertainty under the coalition has cost the country an extra five billion euros ($5.54 billion) in interest on its debt.

Salvini's plan for a snap election -- more than three years early -- had envisioned a vote in October followed by him being crowned as prime minister.

According to opinion polls, the League could form a coalition with the anti-immigration, anti-LGBT Brothers of Italy, and possibly Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia.

But a bid by his rivals to put aside their differences and forge an alliance could derail Salvini's plan, with a coalition between M5S and the opposition centre-left Democratic Party (PD) being discussed.

While there is bad blood between the two parties, M5S is languishing in the polls and wants to avoid an early election.

Former PD premier Matteo Renzi on Tuesday said that he "would not be part" of a PD-M5S alliance, as many in the anti-establishment party resent him as part of the old elite.

According to some analysts, Conte could also stay on as premier while trying to form an alliance with PD.

With no likely governing coalition and La Lega's polling numbers up at 38%(twice of what they were when the government was formed), Salvini's trying to bring down the government in the hopes that he can have a right wing coalition governing Italy by the year's end. And yes, this may become an election thread should one be called.

So, NSG? What's your view on this turn of events?

I understand Salvini wanting to do this to an extent, M5S has all but collapsed in terms of popular support, but La Lega scares me.

So ... do you have a news service that sends you a notification every time someone even whispers the word "Election"?

I just imagine Shrill is like the characters from The Matrix.

"Operator, download all information on current political happenings"
*Eyes flutter for a few seconds*
"I know about Italians now..."

[Rojava Free State]

Italian politics being disorderly and chaotic? Who would have suspected

[Shrillland]

So ... do you have a news service that sends you a notification every time someone even whispers the word "Election"?

I just imagine Shrill is like the characters from The Matrix.

"Operator, download all information on current political happenings"
*Eyes flutter for a few seconds*
"I know about Italians now..."

Actually, Forumland sent me a TG about the no-confidence vote last week because of my...record in regards to such things. And I'm a Wikipedia addict. And I know how NSG is when it comes to global affairs.

[Shrillland]

Italian politics being disorderly and chaotic? Who would have suspected

It wasn't a disorderly move, Salvini just saw that the polls had reversed and figured he could have a grand right coalition if he acted quickly enough, and the voters seem to be behind the idea.

[Vistulange]

I just imagine Shrill is like the characters from The Matrix.

"Operator, download all information on current political happenings"
*Eyes flutter for a few seconds*
"I know about Italians now..."

Actually, Forumland sent me a TG about the no-confidence vote last week because of my...record in regards to such things. And I'm a Wikipedia addict. And I know how NSG is when it comes to global affairs.

I did try to break up your monopoly on the election threads with some Turkish election or another, it may have been the 2018 General Elections or the recent 2019 Local Elections, but I don't think I succeeded. Ah well, maybe one day.

[Dresderstan]

Isn't M5S (Or is it MS5) also down into third in the polls behind the Democrats? Either way with the poor showings the party had in the EU elections and how well the League had done, it was only a matter of time until calls of no confidence start to pour in and break up the coalition.

[Shrillland]

Isn't M5S (Or is it MS5) also down into third in the polls behind the Democrats? Either way with the poor showings the party had in the EU elections and how well the League had done, it was only a matter of time until calls of no confidence start to pour in and break up the coalition.

They are indeed down in third, and they're actually at where La Lega was at the last general election last year. And it is M5S, that's the Italian initial.

[Washington Resistance Army]

What exactly is La Lega and why are you scared of them?

[Shrillland]

What exactly is La Lega and why are you scared of them?

Well, not literally scared of course, but I can't say I like them much: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lega_Nord

They used to be Lega Nord(Northern League) since they were a northern regionalist party dedicated to regional autonomy. Salvini's transformed them into a nationwide party that's just The League(La Lega) and made them a populist right-wing party like those in the rest of Europe.

[Forumland]

PD-M5S coalition was considered before Conte’s resignation

why? literally everybody should be interested in seeing the government fall. sure PD would lose, but it’s better than forming a politically toxic government which would probably give the Lega a majority or something in 2023

[Greed and Death]

Clearly Italy needs Silvio Berlusconi back in charge.

[Shrillland]

Clearly Italy needs Silvio Berlusconi back in charge.

He's an MEP now, he won't leave that to become Salvini's second banana.

Anyway, we'll know if Italy goes to the polls in a couple of weeks, I think.

[Greed and Death]

Berlusconi looks like a mannequin.

A side effect of the procedure rendering him immortal.

Don't worry soon he will lead Italy for 200 years.

[LiberNovusAmericae]

This is why technocracy is a bad idea.

What should replace it?

[Greed and Death]

This is why technocracy is a bad idea.

What should replace it?

Rule by decree from Silvio Berlusconi.

[Dresderstan]

Berlusconi looks like a mannequin.

It says he in his 80s, but I swear he looks like 25-40 years younger than that.

[Overwerk megamix]

why is italy economy always in some trouble these days?

what's up with that

[Greed and Death]

why is italy economy always in some trouble these days?

what's up with that

It doesnt have Silvio Berlusconi guiding it.

[Shrillland]

why is italy economy always in some trouble these days?

what's up with that

Well, in this case the economy wasn't the issue, just political opportunism. Italy's economy has always been more volatile than the rest of the EU partially because they're a relatively poor country.

[Kowani]

Ah, Shrill. Thanks for making all these election threads, mate.