Far-right claims the right to rule
TWO anti-establishment leaders have made early plays to govern Italy, triggering concern in the euro zone following an inconclusive election where voters shunted mainstream parties to the sidelines.
With the euro zone’s third-largest economy seemingly facing prolonged political instability, the anti-immigrant League party claimed the right to rule after its centre-right alliance won the most votes.
“We have the right and duty to govern,” League leader Matteo Salvini told reporters.
He said investors should have no fear, but the prospect of a eurosceptic goverment hit shares, bonds and the euro.
Luigi Di Maio, 31, the head of the biggest single party, the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, said his group had emerged as the clear winner on Sunday, capturing about a third of the vote, and should head the next government.
With the vote count almost complete, none of the three main factions had enough seats to govern alone. President Sergio Mattarella is expected to open coalition talks next month, with another election possible if no accord is found.
The ruling centre-left Democratic Party was delivered a crushing defeat that led former prime minister Matteo Renzi to resign as party leader. He said the party would play no part in the next administration.
“We will never form a government with anti-system forces,” he added, referring to 5-Star and League.
The rightist alliance that includes former PM Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia was on course for about 37 per cent of the vote, with the League alliance as its senior partner for the first time.
Mr Berlusconi, who has not been seen since the vote, met Mr Salvini on Monday in his villa near Milan.
Later, Forza Italia said it was open to welcoming other parties to a centre-right government.