Efforts for Italy's two main
opposition groups, the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and the
populist 5-Star Movement (M5S), to form an alliance capable of
taking on Premier Giorgia Meloni's centre-right coalition have
hit rough waters because of a probe into alleged vote buying in
the province of Bari.
Ex-premier and M5S leader Giuseppe Conte on Thursday announced
that the M5S would not take part in primaries to select the
centre left's candidate for upcoming local elections in Bari
after the PD's Anita Maurodinoia resigned as Puglia regional
transport councillor after it emerged she was among the people
under investigation.
That sparked an angry reaction from the PD which escalated
further with Conte's counter-reaction on Friday.
"It will become increasingly difficult to work with the
Democratic Party, if they don't withdraw the accusations of
being disloyal," Conte told La7 television, saying he had spoken
to PD leader Elly Schlein about the decision to withdraw from
the primaries before announcing it.
"We stand for legality.
"If the Democratic Party is willing to embark on a new path,
without throwing the whole past overboard, then fine.
"Otherwise we'll take note of their position".
Bari was already at the centre of political tension after the
central government launched an inspection of the municipal
administration for possible mafia infiltration.
Bari Mayor Antonio Decaro, a PD member, says the move is linked
to June's local elections in the city.
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