Italian PM, Conte, Resigns Amidst Covid-19 Criticisms

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte of Italy has resigned and it is not clear if he will be able to form and lead a new coalition government.

He has been criticized for his handling of the covid-19 pandemic in which more than 85,000 Italians died.

Mr. Conte met President Sergio Mattarella, who may ask him to form a stronger government. Last week he lost his senate majority.

The law Professor, who headed two coalition governments since 2018, tendered his resignation to President Mattarella. And now Mr. Conte is discussing the political crisis with senate president Elisabetta Casellati.

Mr. Conte survived a vote of confidence in the lower house – the chamber of deputies, last week. He then won a senate vote, but without an absolute majority.

The confidence vote was called after former PM Matteo Renzi pulled his small, liberal Italia Viva party out of the coalition and said he would only return if Mr. Conte accepted a vote of confidence.

He objects to Mr. Conte’s plans for spending €209bn (£186bn, $254bn) of EU recovery fund – part of €750bn EU rescue for covid-19 crisis.
Mr. Renzi says EU funds should be invested in promoting sectors like digital and green technologies, and he does not want technocrats, rather than MPs deciding on the allocation.

The anti-establishment five star movement (M5S) has said it will “remain at Conte’s side”.

His resignation comes ahead of a vote on judicial reforms later this week that MPs in his coalition warned he would lose.