Anti-establishment 5-Star Movement
(M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio reiterated Thursday that centre-right
Forza Italia (FI) leader Silvio Berlusconi must "step aside"
from his alliance with the rightwing populist League because a
government with FI was "impossible".
Speaking after the second round of consultations with
President Sergio Mattarella, Di Maio said a "government of
change" was needed which would be impossible with the three-time
former premier and media magnate, now second in the centre-right
alliance to League leader matteo Salvini.
Di Maio said there was an "institutional synergy" with FI's
senior partner, Salvini's anti-migrant Euskeptic League, which
had enabled the M5S and League to make parliament operational
immediately.
An acceleration in government-formation efforts is needed in
light of the Syrian question and the needs of Italian citizens,
Di Maio said.
Di Maio said no to chemical weapons in Syria but that
diplomacy was needed, and that was his objective as premier
candidate.
Finally, Di Maio said he was still "open" to the centre left
Democratic Party (PD) as a possible alternative to the League,
but the PD was "stuck" on its opposition stance.
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