Five Star Leader Unlikely to Get Italy’s Premiership, Official Says
- Senior state official says parliamentary majority is priority
- If March 4 causes gridlock, repeat vote seen only in 2019
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Luigi Di Maio, the anti-establishment Five Star Movement’s candidate for Italian premier, is unlikely to be given a chance to govern by President Sergio Mattarella even if he wins the March 4 election, according to a senior state official.
Polls before a blackout period was imposed on Feb. 17 suggested Five Star was on course to become the single biggest party but falling short of a parliamentary majority. However, Di Maio will only be given a mandate if he either wins a majority of seats or can forge a government with such backing, said the official, who asked not to be named discussing the head of state’s moves after the vote.