About: Italian elections 2018
Italy sends mixed signals to jittery markets after debt downgrade
Italy's new anti-establishment government sent contradictory signals to financial markets on Sunday (2 September) amid increasing concern Rome could breach EU spending limits as it comes under pressure to fulfil its anti-austerity electoral promises.
Oettinger’s Italy gaffe under the microscope
The EU’s budget Commissioner, Günther Oettinger, triggered a wave of outrage last month after reportedly suggesting that markets will “teach” Italian people how to vote. EURACTIV.com looks into the story as part of the 'Fact or Fake' series, in partnership with France 24.
Macron warns of populism ‘leprosy’, Italy hits back
French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday (21 June) populism was spreading across Europe like a disease that Europeans should fight more vigorously instead of criticising the actions of pro-European governments like his.
Tensions build ahead of hastily prepared migration meeting
Jean-Claude Juncker's invitation to a handful of EU leaders for an informal mini-summit on Sunday (27 June) to discuss migration and asylum appears to have raised more issues than the meeting can solve.
Italy says it will seize two NGO migrant rescue ships
Italy said yesterday (21 June) that it would seize two rescue migrant ships, one of which is stranded in the Mediterranean carrying over 200 migrants, adding that they were "illegally" flying the Dutch flag.
The modest impact of ‘fake news’ on the 2018 Italian elections
A Brussels-based NGO has monitored the 2018 Italian election and came to the conclusion that "fake news" have been relatively rare. EURACTIV.com looks into the story as part of the “Fact or Fake” series, in partnership with France 24.
Salvini wants census of Roma communities to expel non-Italians
Italy's new government plans to carry out a census of the Roma community with an eye to kicking out anyone staying in the country illegally, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said yesterday (18 June).
Italy’s far-right interior minister says migrant rescue ship on ‘cruise’
Italy's far-right interior minister Matteo Salvini has suggested that hundreds of migrants aboard a rescue convoy heading for Spain were on a "cruise", as an NGO condemned their plight as a symbol of the failure of the EU.
Italian PM Conte slams French ‘hypocrisy’ in migrant convoy clash
Italy forged ahead with plans to send hundreds of migrants to Spain in a small naval convoy on Tuesday (12 June) after shutting its own ports to them, sparking a war of words with France that exposed EU tensions over immigration.
New Italian economy minister vows to stay in euro, cut debt level
Italy's new coalition government has no intention of leaving the euro and plans to focus on cutting debt levels, Economy Minister Giovanni Tria said on Sunday (10 June), looking to reassure nervous financial markets.
New Italian minister calls the TAP pipeline ‘pointless’
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte comfortably won a confidence vote in the lower house of parliament yesterday (6 June), but divisions inside his coalition put at risk a major gas pipeline project, seen by Brussels as a cornerstone of EU’s energy security.
Italian populist cabinet faces vote of confidence in parliament
Italy's coalition between the anti-system 5-Star Movement and the fat-right Northern League will test its power today (5 June) in the first of this week's two parliamentary confidence votes in the new government.
Italian parties reach government deal, Eurosceptic to oversee Europe
Anti-establishment and nationalist parties in Italy reached a new coalition deal on Thursday (31 May) reviving their plans to take power, narrowly avoiding snap elections and setting in motion an anti-austerity government in the eurozone’s third largest economy. On Thursday...
Brussels lies low as Italy crisis continues
The European Union is treading cautiously as the political crisis in Italy fuels fear of a renewed threat to the long-term credibility of the eurozone.
South Tyrol looks anxiously towards Rome
The governor of South Tyrol, Italy's northernmost region, speaks of the biggest crisis in Italy, worries about his province’s role in the EU and warns of political experiments. EURACTIV Germany reports from Vienna.
Italy may return to polls as early as July, amid market rout
Italy may hold repeat elections as early as July after the man asked to be prime minister failed to secure support from major political parties for even a stop-gap government, sources said on Tuesday (29 May), as markets tumbled on the growing political turmoil.
Oettinger: Markets will show the way to shun populists in Italy
Markets will persuade Italians not to vote for the two populist parties that have tried and failed to form a government this month, the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) and the anti-migrant Eurosceptic League, the EU's budget Commissioner said in an interview with Deutsche Welle.
President readies Italy for snap polls to be fought on EU, euro
Italy's president set the country on a path to fresh elections on Monday (28 May), appointing a former International Monetary Fund official as interim prime minister with the task of planning for snap polls and passing the next budget.
Technocrat PM to take over in Italy as President steps in to protect the euro
Italy's president is expected to ask a former International Monetary Fund official today (28 May) to head a stopgap government amidst political and constitutional turmoil, with early elections looking inevitable.
Giuseppe Conte approved as Italian prime minister
Italy's president on Wednesday (23 May) approved little-known lawyer Giuseppe Conte's nomination to be prime minister of a government formed by far-right and anti-establishment parties.
Commission demands ‘credible response’ from Italy to reduce debt
The European Commission on Wednesday (23 May) approved Italy’s efforts to balance its public accounts but asked the new government for a “credible response” in order to further reduce its immense public debt.
An Italian job to shield the euro
Market pressure, the strong hand of EU institutions and the limits of power will determine how far the new Italian government will go in shaking up the eurozone’s status quo.
How did EU-founding member Italy go Eurosceptic?
All eyes are on Italy as the far-right League and rebellious Five Star Movement close in on power, ringing alarm bells in Brussels as the country inches towards becoming the first EU founding member to have a euro-sceptic government.