Former Democratic Party (PD) leader
Matteo Renzi on Sunday scotched a government alliance between
the PD and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S).
Speaking about M5S leader Luigi Di Maio, Renzi said on
Italian TV "you can meet Di Maio but you can't vote confidence
in a Di Maio government".
Di Maio responded that Renzi had a "boundless ego" and said
the PD would "pay" for his decision.
Renzi resigned after leading the PD to its worst-ever
showing, 18%, in the inconclusive March 4 general election.
Di Maio has been claiming the premiership after the M5S
notched 32% to become Italy's top party.
The centre right alliance of anti-migrant Eurskeptic League
leader Matteo Salvini, who got 17.5%, and former premier and
centre-right Forza Italia (FI) leader Silvio Berlusconi, who got
14%, were the top coalition with 37%.
President Sergio Mattarella first gave a government-formation
exploratory mandate to Senate Speaker Elisabetta Casellati of FI
to see if the centre right could team up with the M5S, but the
M5S vetoed any government featuring Berlusconi.
Mattarella then gave a mandate to Lower House Speaker Roberto
Fico of the M5S to sound out an M5S-PD alliance.
PD caretaker leader Maurizio Martina has said they should at
least talk, but since former premier Renzi still controls most
of the party, the PD is now expected to say no at an executive
meeting on Thursday.
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