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Mario Draghi, ex-head of the European Central Bank, is to form a new government in Italy
Photo: Fabrizio Corradetti / dpa
When looking for a new government for Italy, Mario Draghi cleared the first hurdle.
On Saturday, the right-wing League and the populist five-star movement promised the former head of the European Central Bank (ECB) support after consultations.
Before the start of a second round of talks on Monday, according to the Italian media, it was still unclear whether Draghi was planning a purely expert cabinet or whether he would promise ministerial posts to the parties.
Lega leader Matteo Salvini stressed that his party made no conditions for supporting a government of national unity under Draghi.
"We are ready," said Salvini after a meeting with the ex-ECB chief.
Salvini, who regularly criticizes the ECB and the European Union, initially called for new elections.
A final decision on Draghi's support will be made after the second round of talks with the former ECB chief next week, said Salvini.
The Five Star Movement (M5S), which makes up almost a third of the MPs and senators in Rome, also pledged its support to Draghi if the conditions for a majority were found.
"We are ready to overcome any obstacle in the interests of the country," said interim boss Vito Crimi.
The party had supported the outgoing Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to the end and rejected an expert government.
Draghi began talks on forming a new government in Rome on Thursday.
The center-left party PD and the small party Italia Viva (IV) of ex-Prime Minister Matteo Renzi have already promised him their support, as has the right-wing Forza Italia party of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Lega government participation as a possible knockout criterion
Salvini's announcement that it would support Draghi is likely to cause internal party discussions in the PD: The center-left party refuses to enter a government in which Lega members could hold important posts.
The Italian daily "Corriere della Sera" predicted internal party tensions up to the "explosion" in this context.
After the end of his first round of talks with the parties, Draghi now wants to meet with civil society groups such as trade unions and associations on Monday.
A second round of talks with the parties will take place at the end of next week.
Conte had announced his resignation last week after the center-left coalition he led broke up in the dispute over the use of the European Union's corona aid funds.
Renzi had terminated the alliance with the PD and the five-star movement.
He accused Conte of wasting billions in funds and called for them to be used more sensibly.
President Sergio Mattarella tasked Draghi with forming a government on Tuesday.
He wanted to avoid early elections in view of the corona pandemic, said the president.
Should there be new elections, according to surveys, the right-wing camp under Salvini's leadership would have a good chance.
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