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Civil Service Minister Renato
Brunetta said Thursday that he was quitting Silvio Berlusconi's
Forza Italia (FI) after the centre-right group helped bring down
outgoing Premier Mario Draghi's government on Wednesday by
failing to back it in a confidence vote.
His exit follows that of another high-profile, long-standing FI
figure, Regional Affairs Minister Mariastella Gelmini, who quit
on Wednesday, saying the party had turned its back on families
and firms and given in to League leader Matteo Salvini.
"Those who put partisan interests ahead of the interests of the
country at such a grave time are irresponsible," Brunetta said.
"The increasingly tight-knit leadership of Forza Italia have
splayed themselves to the worst form of nationalist populism,
sacrificing a champion like Draghi, the pride of Italy around
the world, on the altar of the most short-sighted electoral
opportunism".
Italy looks set to have early elections within months following
the collapse of Draghi's government.
The right/centre-right coalition made up of Brothers of Italy
(FdI), the only major party that did not back Draghi's
government of national unity, the League and FI is expected to
win the election.
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