Europe

Europe

Italian President: Italy needs more time to form a new government

23 August 2019 14:02 (UTC +04:00)

Italy's president has extended the time needed for a new government to be formed, APA reports referring to Euronews.

Sergio Mattarella has been speaking to key political leaders over the last two days in a bid to find a majority for a new alliance.

It comes after Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned on Tuesday (August 20), closing the door on a fractious coalition between Matteo Salvini's far-right League party and the left-leaning populists, Five Star Movement.

Mattarella had been expected to make an announcement about a new government on Thursday evening.

But, instead, he said consultations would continue until next Tuesday.

Earlier, Salvini called for fresh elections after a meeting with Mattarella, arguing that Italy cannot afford to waste time with a "government that quarrels".

Salvini, who was Italy's interior minister until the resignation of Conte, also hinted that he would consider a new alliance with the Five Star Movement if it was in favour of a "courageous budget".

"If they want to get the country moving again we are ready to do so without prejudice, without looking back," he said.