ROME, 29 August. - (ANA) - Italy’s president asked Giuseppe Conte to head a coalition of the 5-Star Movement and opposition Democratic Party (PD) on Thursday, a move could that could mark a turning point in Italy’s frayed relations with the European Union.

 

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte speaks in Rome, Italy August 29, 2019. Presidential Palace/Francesco Ammendola/Handout via REUTERS

Sergio Mattarella handed Conte a fresh mandate to form a cabinet barely a week after the low-key lawyer had resigned following a decision by the far-right League party to pull out of its coalition with 5-Star.

 

The move by its leader Matteo Salvini, who had wanted early elections to capitalize on his party’s success in European elections, appeared to have backfired as 5-Star and the PD set aside their mutual antipathy to form a government led by Conte.  - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/29 August 2019 - - -