Italian President Sergio Mattarella Faces Impeachment Call
Italian President Sergio Mattarella addresses journalists on the second day of consultations of political parties, on April 5, 2018 at the Quirinale palace in Rome. Mattarella said no government accord was found and will lead new talks next week. Italian President Sergio Mattarella begins key talks with parties yesterday on forming a government after last month’s election left a hung parliament. / AFP PHOTO / Alberto PIZZOLI
Italy’s president is facing calls for his impeachment after refusing to appoint a key minister backed by the country’s prospective prime minister.
Sergio Mattarella would not endorse Eurosceptic Paolo Savona as economy minister, despite him being supported by Giuseppe Conte – who was picked as a compromise prime ministerial candidate by the populist coalition hoping to form a government.
Mr Conte, a little-known 53-year-old lawyer with no political experience, subsequently rejected Mr Matteralla’s offer to form an administration – throwing Italy into fresh political crisis.
The country has been without a government since elections on 4 March left the Eurosceptic 5-Star Movement and the right-wing League Nord as the two largest parties in a hung parliament.
Mr Mattarella summoned Carlo Cottarelli, a former economist with the International Monetary Fund, for talks on Monday as he moved to appoint a technocratic government ahead of new elections.