Former Italian Premier Matteo Renzi appealed Sunday to disillusioned members of ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi's party to join forces — but received a quick rebuke. Renzi made his appeal the day after Berlusconi and his much-weakened Forza Italia party appeared marginalized at a right-wing rally in Rome led by Matteo Salvini of the populist League. Renzi said the right-wing rally in Rome on Saturday "ended the cultural model of the center-right. Yesterday Salvini took the reins and I understand the discomfort of the managers and rank-and-file of Forza Italia." Renzi split from the Democratic Party that he formerly ran after supporting the formation of the new government with the 5-Star Movement to create his own "Italia Viva" party.

Source: ABC News October 20, 2019 19:29 UTC