Giuseppe Conte says members of his 5-Star Movement (M5S) will quit positions in Puglia. Announcement is a new blow to efforts for Italy's opposition parties to join forces.
A former member of the Puglia regional executive, Alfonso Pisicchio, was placed underhouse arrest on Wednesday along with his brother in a corruption probe. Last week Conte announced that the M5S would not take part in primaries to select the center left's candidate for upcoming local elections in Bari. The decision irked the other main opposition group, the Democratic Party (PD), which says the move could lead to the city council being dissolved, linked to June's local election in the city of Bari, which is already at the center of political tension. The central government launched an inspection of the municipal administration for possible mafia infiltration following another probe. The M5s is part of the coalition that supports Puglia Governor Michele Emiliano's coalition in the regional assembly.