News / EU

Anti-immigrant League party claims right to lead Italy’s future coalition govt.

Monday, 05 March 2018 1:50 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 05 March 2018 6:20 PM ]

The leader of Italy's far-right League party, Matteo Salvini, puts a thumb up as he votes for general election on March 4, 2018 at a polling station in Milan. (Photo by AFP)

Leader of Italy’s League party Matteo Salvini says his far-right group has the right to lead a coalition government after no party managed to secure a majority in the weekend general election.

Salvini said Monday that the League, which gained almost 18 percent of the vote in the inconclusive election a day earlier, should have the right to nominate a prime minister within a coalition of the right wing.

“We have the right and the duty to govern over the coming years,” said Salvini, adding that the vote was an “extraordinary victory” for the League.

Early results showed that Forza Italia (Go Italy) party, another main right wing party led by former premier Silvio Berlusconi, obtained 14 percent of the vote.

Salvini said based on an agreement within the right wing coalition, whichever party came away with the most votes would nominate the future prime minister.

League party leader Matteo Salvini gestures as he arrives to attend a news conference, the day after Italy's parliamentary election, in Milan, Italy, on March 5, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

The eurosceptic leader said he would hold talks with other parties in the coalition “in the coming hours.”

“I'm not saying it has to be me, but our team is ready,” said Salvini, adding that “deals between friends are kept.”

Salvini ruled out speculations that the League would join a coalition with the populist Five Star Movement, the largest single party in the election with around 32 percent, insisting that “the team is the center-right coalition.”

Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio also claimed the right to govern, saying his party was ready to open discussions “with all political actors” to help form a majority in parliament.