Talks hit stumbling block:

Talks between Italy’s anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) to form a new government have hit a stumbling block over the PD’s opposition to Giuseppe Conte being reinstated as prime minister.

The two parties, traditionally bitter foes, started talks on Friday to try to reach common ground for a new government after the ruling coalition of 5-Star and right-wing League imploded last week after months of infighting, forcing Conte to resign.

On Thursday, President Sergio Matta

rella gave Italy’s fractious parties five days to clinch a deal to resolve a political crisis and avoid a snap election.

In his first meeting on Friday with 5-Star leader Luigi di Maio, PD chief Nicola Zingaretti said any new government would have to mark a break with the past, including appointing a new leader.

“Nothing personal,” Zingaretti said on

Saturday.

In later comments on Facebook he said his party was open to any kind of dialogue on a list of policy priorities put forward by 5-Star. “We will continue to work to try and open a new political season.”

Speaking to reporters in Biarritz on Saturday ahead of the G7 summit, Conte, who has continued to serve in a caretaker

capacity, said it was a question of policies and not people.

“The political season (of the 5-StarLeague government) is for me something that’s over and done with and cannot be reopened any more,” he said.

A deal between 5-Star and the PD would give Italy a more moderate, Europefriendly government and force the League into opposition.

The meeting between the two leaders, described as very cordial, followed a previous meeting of emissaries from both parties who said there was reason for optimism. (RTRS)