Italy could be forced to hold new elections after Giuseppe Conte gave up his bid to form a government following the collapse of talks with the president over including a eurosceptic economy minister in his cabinet. “I have given up my mandate to form the government of change,” said Conte to reporters after leaving failed talks with President Sergio Mattarella. Conte’s decision to step aside leaves Italy in a political crisis nearly three months after March’s inconclusive general election. Following the collapsed talks, Mattarella has summoned Carlo Cottarelli, former director of the International Monetary Fund’s fiscal affairs department, for talks on Monday, with a temporary technical government now looking inevitable as Italy faces the strong possibility of new elections in the autumn. “I accepted every proposed minister apart from the minister of the economy,” Mattarella told reporters.

Source: Punch May 27, 2018 20:37 UTC