'Italy back to the polls in July'

rome - Italian voters may have to go to the polls again in July. The leader of the right-wing populist Lega, Matteo Salvini, stated that new parliamentary elections could be held on 8 July if no agreement was reached on a new government. He said that the Five Star Movement (M5S) is also a proponent of this.

New elections could put an end to the political stalemate in the country. Attempts to form a new government have failed in the past two months. M5S refused to join forces with the party of the former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who had been bothered by scandals. That stood in the way of an agreement with the Lega, because that party is an ally of Berlusconi's Forza Italia.

M5S leader Luigi Di Maio made a new attempt on Sunday to tempt the Lega to cooperate. He dropped the demand that he should come to the head of a new government. Di Maio, together with Lega leader Salvini, offered to look for a premier that is acceptable to both parties. That offer did not lead to a breakthrough.

President Sergio Mattarella could also try to install a kind of business cabinet, but that seems politically unfeasible. M5S, the largest party in parliament, has made it clear that they do not want to. The Eurosceptic protest party seems to be preparing for new elections.

'From today on we campaign again', wrote Di Maio on Facebook. He regretted that he should ask his supporters to vote again, but he said he did not see any alternatives. 'We did everything we could. '

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