President Sergio Mattarella has given Italy’s divided political parties 24 hours to try to reach a deal on a new government before he appoints a caretaker cabinet.
Italy’s two main factions, the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) and right-wing populist League, requested the last-minute extension after their leaders met on Wednesday morning, the president’s statement said.
“The Five Star Movement and the League have informed the president that they are in talks to try and come to a possible government accord and that they need 24 hours to develop this initiative,” it said.
Mattarella had been preparing to name a “neutral” cabinet to oversee Italy’s most pressing matters of government while preparing the country for new elections to break the deadlock created by an inconclusive vote in March.
