Italian President Sergio Mattarella speaking in Rome after a fifth failed round of talks aimed at forming a government, more than two months after elections yielded a hung parliament. Photo: Ettore Ferrari/Associated PressROME—Italy edged closer to fresh national elections, as the Italian president launched a last-ditch call for parties to support a short-term government in an attempt to break a two-month political deadlock. President Sergio Mattarella concluded the fifth unsuccessful round of formal talks among parties Monday, his latest effort to cajole the groups into bridging their differences and forming a new government. The talks come more than two months after national elections produced a hung parliament. Otherwise, the president warned, Italians could go back to the polls as soon as this summer.

Source: Wall Street Journal May 07, 2018 20:15 UTC