Foreign
ITALY’s far-right leader Matteo Salvini is losing in popularity after triggering a government crisis, an opinion poll suggests.
Salvini’s League is supported by 31.3 per cent of voters, according to a survey by the Tecne institute, published by scenaripolitici.com, a polling website.
In the previous Tecne poll from August 6, the League was on 38 per cent.
Over the same period, the Five-Star Movement (M5S) has gained in support from 17.5 to 20.8 per cent, as has the Democratic Party (PD) from 22.4 to 24.6 per cent, Tecne says.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned on Tuesday following a blistering attack on coalition partner Matteo Salvini.
Conte alleged that Salvini had been “irresponsible” in creating a new political crisis for Italy for “personal and party interests”.
Salvini, the leader of the nationalist League party, had tabled a no-confidence motion against Conte.
He also said he could no longer work with his coalition partners Five Star.
The League and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement formed a coalition to govern just 14 months ago with Conte as an independent as prime minister.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella accepted the resignation of Conte and is due to begin consulting party leaders on Wednesday.
Mattarella has asked Conte to remain in office while the discussions continue.
If there is not the political will to form a new government, the president will dissolve parliament and call early elections.
Addressing the Senate on Tuesday, Conte said that the League leader, who was sitting beside him, had been “looking for a pretext to return to the polls” since his party’s success in European elections in May.
In those elections, the League came top with 34 per cent of the votes in Italy, whereas Five Star got about 17 per cent per cent.
Conte warned that Salvini had undermined the function of the government, “which stops here”.
“It is irresponsible to initiate a government crisis. It shows personal and party interests,” he said.
He also criticised Salvini’s use of “combining political slogans and religious symbols at rallies”, calling it “unconscionable”. (dpa/NAN)
– Aug. 23, 2019 @ 13:45 GMT |
Tags: Italy’s Salvini less popular after causing govt crisis — Poll
