Significant progress on formation of new government in Italy

Rome May 10 (IANS/AKI) Italy s populist Five-Star Movement and the far-right League have made "significant progress" in talks over the past 24 hours on a coalition government Five-Star leader Luigi Di Maio and League leader Matteo Salvini said in a written statement on Tuesday.

"Significant progress has been made on a cabinet and on appointing a prime minister amid constructive cooperation between the two sides.

"The goal is to finalise everything is as short time as possible to give answers and a democratic government to Italy " said the statement coming after a meeting at the Italian parliament between Di Maio - who heads Italy s largest party - and Salvini - who leads the biggest political bloc.

President Sergio Mattarella on Monday gave the pair a further day of last-ditch talks on forming a coalition after two months of political deadlock since Italy s inconclusive March 4 election.

The main obstacle to a Five-Star-centre-right tie-up has been Salvini s refusal to break with his veteran conservative ally Silvio Berlusconi leader of the Forza Italia party who has a tax fraud conviction and is on trial for bribery.

But late on Monday Berlusconi yielded to pressure including from his own lawmakers and pledged that he is open to Five-Star and the League parties governing together.

Mattarella has given Di Maio and Salvini until Thursday afternoon to agree on forming a majority government.

--IANS/AKI
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