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Italy’s Five Star Members Back Deal for New Conte-Led Government

  • Online ballot was seen as a final hurdle for new coalition
  • Democrats say work on common program has now been completed
Giuseppe Conte, Italy's premier-designate, arrives to a news conference in Rome on Aug. 29. 

Giuseppe Conte, Italy's premier-designate, arrives to a news conference in Rome on Aug. 29. 

Photographer: Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg
Updated on

Italian Premier-designate Giuseppe Conte cleared what could be the final obstacle in his bid to put together a new government, after supporters of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement backed him in an online vote.

Five Star activists voted by 79.3% Tuesday in favor of Conte’s attempt to form a coalition between Five Star and the center-left Democratic Party, an establishment force Five Star had long criticized as corrupt, inept and out of touch.