- Title: "Italians are hostage", Salvini says as PD, 5-Star make deal
- Date: 28th August 2019
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (AUGUST 28, 2019) (REUTERS) CAR CARRYING SALVINI LEAVING / PEOPLE BOOING AND SHOUTING: (Italian) 'TRAITOR!' PEOPLE GATHERED IN FRONT OF QUIRINALE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE CAR CARRYING SALVINI PASSING BY / PEOPLE SHOUTING: (Italian) 'TRAITOR!'
- Embargoed: 11th September 2019 18:02
- Keywords: 5-Star Movement Giuseppe Conte coalition Luigi Di Maio government crisis League Democratic Party Italian politics Matteo Salvini
- Location: ROME, ITALY
- City: ROME, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA003AU4UQ87
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Leader of Italy's far-right League party Matteo Salvini on Wednesday (August 28) said that Italians were being "held hostage" after the 5-Star Movement and the opposition Democratic Party (PD) said they would try to form a coalition.
The previous coalition made up of 5-Star and the League collapsed this month when Salvini withdrew from the alliance hoping to trigger an early election and cash in on his surging popularity.
But his move backfired when Conte refused to resign immediately, giving 5-Star and the PD time to try to overcome their fierce mutual animosity and agree to form a government that had previously appeared impossible.
"The only thing that unites them...is their hatred of the League," Salvini said bitterly after meeting President Sergio Mattarella in an effort to convince him to call elections.
5-Star and the PD still need to agree on a shared policy platform and team of ministers, but 5-Star chief Luigi Di Maio and his PD counterpart Nicola Zingaretti said they had committed to find common ground for the good of the country.
(Production: Carmelo Camilli, Fabiano Franchitti, Emily Roe) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
