ROME - Italy’s premier insisted Saturday his squabbling coalition will last three more years, even after a minister quit in protest and despite nervousness over a regional election that could help the popularity of right-wing forces. Premier Giuseppe Conte brushed off concerns that his government, which took office in September, could implode. Conte is heading his second coalition government since 2018 elections for Parliament left Italy in political gridlock, dependent on rival parties governing together. Conte advised his coalition to engage in “lively debate but not squabbling for squabbling’s sake.”Opinion polls consistently show that Conte, a lawyer specializing in mediation, is one of Italy’s most admired leaders. He first became premier a year-and-a-half ago in an earlier coalition that paired the 5-Stars with the rival right-wing League led by anti-migrant proponent Matteo Salvini.

Source: thestar December 28, 2019 15:01 UTC