Italy’s Populists Near Crunch Time, With Salvini Playing God
- League leader has threatened to ditch ally, seek snap vote
- Salvini also seeking cabinet reshuffle, League lawmakers say
Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini
Photographer: Massimo Di Vita/Mondadori via Getty Images
This article is for subscribers only.
Italy’s fractious populist coalition lurches into a make-or-break week as Matteo Salvini decides whether to try to force snap elections while Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte struggles to salvage the government.
The fate of the coalition hangs on a possible meeting between Deputy Premier Salvini and his ally-cum-rival Luigi Di Maio of the Five Star Movement, and government talks on granting more powers to northern regions -- a landmark issue for Salvini’s rightist League. Conte is also due to address parliament on the “Russiagate” scandal Wednesday.