Berlusconi snubbed as 5-Star cosies up to far right

THE leader of Italy’s antiestablishment 5-Star Movement has ruled out joining a coalition with Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party.

Until now, 5-Star had said it was ready to talk to all parties after the general election last month ended in a hung parliament.

Luigi Di Maio, the 5-Star leader, is understood to be ready to open talks today with the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) – though not with its former secretary Matteo Renzi – and the far-right League, but not with Mr Berlusconi’s Forza Italia.

“We will propose a government contract like the Germans do and what is written is done, and what is not written does not get done,” Mr Di Maio told 5-Star representatives.

The move will heighten tensions between the League and Forza Italia, which are partners in a centre-right coalition that won the most seats.

“The coalition that won the most votes is the centre-right and this is our starting point,” League leader Matteo Salvini said on Facebook. “We will dialogue with 5-Star, but reject vetoes or commands.”

In the election, 5-Star followed the centre-right but was the single largest party, and the PD was third, but no one has enough seats to govern alone.

The 5-Star position will also put pressure on the PD to consider joining a coalition with it. So far the PD has toed the hard line – set by Mr Renzi before he resigned as party leader in the wake of the vote – to not consider a deal with 5-Star.

“The 5-Star leader’s proposal is unacceptable,” tweeted Andrea Marcucci, the PD’s Senate leader.

Though the sources did not say what reason Mr Di Maio gave for rejecting Forza Italia, 5-Star has always been hostile to Mr Berlusconi because the party has vowed to clean up Italian politics.

Mr Berlusconi has a conviction for tax fraud and is on trial in another case for allegedly bribing witnesses.

President Sergio Mattarella begins formal consultations today in which he will try to find common ground and form a government.

Consultations could take weeks and if no deal can be found, Mr Mattarella may be forced to call a new election.