According to a government spokesman, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will resign on Tuesday, which will increase political instability that could lead to quick elections in a country struggling to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and revive its economy.
Mr. Conte resigned after losing his ruling majority in Italy’s Senate earlier this month after a battle with a small coalition ally over spending massive funds offered by the European Union to help Italy recover from the impact. of the pandemic. His resignation has sparked a search for a new government majority, but if none can be found, the EU’s third largest economy is likely to hold elections in the coming months.
The breakdown of Italy’s left-wing government shows that Europe’s political challenges of recent years – including the fragmentation of the political landscape and the rise of anti-establishment parties – have not disappeared, despite the pressure the pandemic is putting on European politicians. to work. together across party lines.
Mr. Conte was the chairman of an awkward coalition led by the foundation, the center-left Democratic Party and the rebellious populist 5-star movement, an alliance primarily aimed at avoiding elections that would win nationalist league party polls. word. Few people in Italy expected the government to last long, although the pandemic for a while took the authority of Mr.
In the end, it was a small, centrist faction, led by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, that drew support for Mr. Conte withdrew, citing unhappiness over his lack of consultation on how to spend more than € 200 billion on EU funds for economic recovery. for Italy.