Caretaker Democratic Party (PD)
leader Maurizio Martina said Tuesday that it was a "development"
for the centre-left group if 5-Star Movement (M5S) chief Luigi
Di Maio has closed off the option of forming a government with
the rightwing, Euroskeptic League.
Martina was speaking after consultations with Lower House
Speaker Roberto Fico, who was given an exploratory mandate by
President Sergio Mattarella on Monday to see if it is possible
to form an M5S-PD government.
Martina said the party's 'directorate' body will decide what
to do.
The PD, which led the last three Italian governments, had
previously pledged to stay in opposition after registering its
worst-ever showing in last-month's inconclusive general
election.
"With a spirit of loyal collaboration, not hiding the
differences and different starting points, also from a policy
standpoint on essential issues, we vow to examine this possible
course of work involving our leadership groups," Martina said
after meeting Fico, an M5S member.
He said the PD expected "answers on PD priorities" adding
that any dialogue with the M5S would focus on "Europe, public
accounts and democracy"
Martina said the national directorate "must be called to
assess, examine, discuss and possibly deliberate a new course
that involves us".
Last week Senate Speaker Maria Elisabetta Casellati failed to
make a breakthrough with a similar exploratory mandate.
Casellati's mandate involved verifying the possibility of
forming a government made up of the centre right, the coalition
that came first in last month's inconclusive general election,
and the M5S, the biggest single party in the new parliament.
Di Maio appeared to meet the PD's first condition when he
slammed the door on the League on Tuesday.
He said that League leader Matteo Salvini has "condemned
himself to irrelevance" for refusing to meet the
anti-establishment group's demand that he drop his centre-right
alliance partners to make a government-formation agreement
possible.
Di Maio said that option of the M5S ruling with the whole
centre right, including Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia, was a
path that could not be taken, after consultations Fico.
He said the M5S was ready to open talks with the PD despite
"profound differences".
The M5S has frequently vilified the PD, which has led the
last three Italian governments but had said it would be in the
opposition after registering its worst-ever showing in last
month's inconclusive general election.
Di Maio said it was necessary to "put the national interest
at the centre" of talks and focus on issues.
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