, Columnist
Italy Is Stable But It's Still in Trouble
While local election results will reassure the EU and investors, the ruling Five Star-Democrat coalition is unlikely to solve the country’s deeper problems.
Mixed fortunes.
Photographer: Alessia Pierdomenico/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
A round of local elections this week could have gone very badly for Italy’s government, a makeshift coalition of the populist Five Star Movement and the center-left Democratic Party. Matteo Salvini’s right-wing grouping had hoped to secure a string of victories, including in Tuscany — a left-wing stronghold. A good Salvini performance might even have toppled the coalition.
However, the right only managed to flip one region, falling short in Tuscany and Apulia in southern Italy. Giuseppe Conte, Italy’s prime minister, lives to fight another day.