The Italian government is on the verge of collapse. After weeks of quarrels, Interior Minister Salvini yesterday called for new elections, effectively announcing the end of the coalition between the Lega and the Five-Star Movement (M5S). The latest dispute was triggered by the M5S’s decision not to approve the major TAV railway project. In the meantime, Prime Minister Conte has announced that he will ask Parliament the question of confidence, which he is very likely to lose. If the end of the coalition is officially confirmed, President Mattarella has the ball rolling. He must officially sound out possibilities for forming a new government or otherwise declare new elections. Since new majority constellations in parliament, such as an alliance between PD (centre-left) and M5S, are unlikely, new elections in mid-October are already being discussed. Until the ballot, the president could set up an expert government that would run the business, but…
