With seven weeks to go before parliamentary elections in Italy, plans to build a center-left alliance against right-wing populism have run into obstacles. Over the weekend, the Greens, the Left (Sinistra Italiana) and Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio’s new party (Impegno Civico) joined the Social Democrat (PD)-led coalition. In response, however, the center party Azione announced the end of the cooperation.
“This was the most painful decision of my life,” Azione boss Carlo Calenda said in an interview with the RAI3 television channel. The party’s withdrawal could have wider repercussions: former Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino’s centrist Piu Europa (+Europe) party, which is allied with Azione, is also considering leaving the centre-left alliance. , which she joined last week.
Azione boss Calenda now wants to participate in the election campaign without alliances. The former industry minister hopes to tip the balance after the election of the newly elected Italian parliament. In the polls, the right-wing conservative camp is currently the favorite with 45% approval.