ROME – Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is close to resigning, but hopes to form a new government that can rely on a wider majority, national dailies reported Monday.
“My goal is to find an agreement that gives a clear political perspective to govern until the end of the legislation,” Conte told La Repubblica newspaper.
The report added that Conte would already be able to submit his resignation to the head of state on Tuesday and then form a new coalition that would campaign for the centrist and so-called “responsible” members of parliament.
There were no immediate comments from the prime minister’s office.
Conte’s government was rocked earlier this month when a junior partner, the Italia Viva party led by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, withdrew from the cabinet over the handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Although Conte survived a vote of confidence in parliament last week, he was unable to obtain an absolute majority in the Senate, meaning he will struggle to set any policy agenda unless he can rely on new support.
The prime minister appealed to Senate lawmakers and did not allocate, but they have responded so far.
The Corriere della Sera newspaper said Conte wanted to get Renzi back on board and wanted to create a ‘government of national security’, which would also have the support of some moderate center-right politicians.
The main ruling parties said press elections on lawmakers said quick elections, two years ahead of schedule, would be the only way out of the political impasse unless a solution is found quickly.