Italy faces fresh elections as negotiations stall
Political deadlock continues after coalition talks break down
Italy is facing the prospect of fresh national elections after the third round of official negotiations to form a functional coalition government failed.
Italian president Sergio Mattarella called an end to formal talks on Monday, more than two months after national elections resulted in a hung parliament.
Mattarella has signalled that there are two options left for Italy – fresh national elections, or the installation of a neutral caretaker government until the end of the year, to allow parties to negotiate the end of the political deadlock that has crippled the Italian government.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“We can’t wait any longer,” he said. “Let the parties decide of their own free will if they should give full powers to a government... or else new elections in the month of July or the autumn.”
The 4 March election resulted in a three-way split of influence in the Italian parliament. The centre-right League coalition which includes Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia group won about 37% of the vote, followed by the Five Star Movement on around 32%. The centre-left Democratic Party came in third.
Mattarella has since tried “various combinations among the parties in an effort to find a coalition that could secure a parliamentary majority”, says The Wall Street Journal.
The two “most influential parties, Five Star and The League, favour a new vote in July”, says the BBC.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Gaza war tearing U.S. campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
DOJ settles with Nassar victims for $138M
Speed Read The settlement includes 139 sexual abuse victims of the former USA Gymnastics doctor
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Myanmar: the Spring Revolution and the downfall of the generals
Talking Point An armed protest movement has swept across the country since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown in 2021
By The Week Staff Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is there a peaceful way forward for Israel and Iran?
Today's Big Question Tehran has initially sought to downplay the latest Israeli missile strike on its territory
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How powerful is Iran?
Today's big question Islamic republic is facing domestic dissent and 'economic peril' but has a vast military, dangerous allies and a nuclear threat
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How green onions could swing South Korea's election
The Explainer Country's president has fallen foul of the oldest trick in the campaign book, not knowing the price of groceries
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine's battle to save Kharkiv from Putin's drones
The Explainer Country's second-largest city has been under almost daily attacks since February amid claims Russia wants to make it uninhabitable
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published