Italy should either get a “political” government or return to the polls with a new bonus-laden electoral law to ensure a majority after last week’s inconclusive vote. So said Matteo Salvini, the far-right League leader.
“Either there’s a government or the word returns to the Italians,” he said in Milan. “I would make tomorrow morning an election law that gives a bonus to the coalition or party that gets the most votes.”
“I don’t believe in technical, short-term governments to implement one or two reforms, which risk being at the service of Brussels,” he added.
As reported by the Italian news agency ANSA, Salvini said he hoped the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) was willing to support a centre-right government to help Italy emerge from its post-election stalemate.
“The PD after (outgoing leader Matteo) Renzi? I hope they’re willing to give the country a way out, no matter who emerges from the (PD) primaries,” said Salvini in Milan.
Asked about PD support for a centre-right government, he said “if everyone says the focus is on jobs, our programme has concrete and achievable proposals on that”.
The League emerged as one of the two winners from the election vote while the PD’s vote dropped dramatically, reported ANSA.
The League scored 18%, compared to the PD’s 19%, while the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) was the top party with 32%.
However, the centre-right coalition now headed by Salvini got 37% of the vote, short of the 40% needed for a working majority.
According to ANSA, both the League and the M5S have been sending overtures to the PD but the party is overwhelmingly behind Renzi’s vow not to cooperate.
