Italy, hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, is looking for a new government. After Matteo Renzi’s small party Italia Viva withdrew from the cabinet of the non-party Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, the center-left alliance was left without a majority in parliament in Rome.
The two ministers from Italia Viva resigned yesterday. For today, explorations about ways out of the crisis and possible new alliances are expected. There was a great deal of speculation about this in Italy.
After Renzi’s splinter party left, the entire government, which is dominated by the populist five-star movement and the Social Democrats (PD), is shaking because of the tight majority. It is the 66th government of the Italian Republic – and the second cabinet in a row led by Conte. According to media reports, the future of the 56-year-old lawyer is also uncertain.
Will Conte remain Premier?
Numerous political options for ways out of the crisis were discussed in the Italian media. After that, the prime minister could simply replace the resigned ministers in the cabinet and put the vote of confidence in parliament – in the hope of defectors from other ranks and members of a mixed group. That would hardly make his situation stable. He could also submit his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella.
It cannot be ruled out that Renzi might want to renegotiate. Some consider it possible that he will return to the center-left alliance. Under which prime minister is considered open. A unity government with forces from the right-wing opposition or an expert government were also brought into play.
If none of this is an option, there could be early elections. This is particularly trying to prevent the five-star movement, which fears halving the votes compared to the 2018 parliamentary election.
