About: italian elections
Virus puts brakes on Salvini’s far-right message in Italy
Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italy's far right, has seen his popularity drop as the coronavirus pandemic has drowned out his anti-immigrant message, but his League party remains a potent threat to the government.
Emilia Romagna voters upset Salvini’s plan to trigger early elections
Italy's populist leader Matteo Salvini appeared to have failed in his bid to win a key regional election and topple the country's fragile coalition government, according to exit polls late Sunday (26 January).
Italy’s Di Maio quits as 5-Star leader in blow to government
Luigi Di Maio stepped down on Wednesday (22 January) as leader of Italy's co-governing 5-Star movement, as it seeks to stem a wave of defections that threatens the government's parliamentary majority.
Italian Sardines square off against Salvini ahead of crucial vote
The "Sardines" grassroots movement protesting against the populism of far-right Italian leader Matteo Salvini staged a mass rally in the northern city of Bologna on Sunday (19 January) ahead of a regional vote that could shake up national politics.
Italy’s constitutional court rejects League’s bid to change electoral law
Italy's Constitutional Court on Thursday (16 January) rejected a request by the hard-right League party to hold a referendum to introduce a first-past-the-post electoral system, triggering the ire of League chief Matteo Salvini and relief in government ranks.
Italy’s Salvini set for victory in Umbria local vote
A right-wing coalition is set for victory in an election on Sunday (27 October) in the central Italian region of Umbria, according to an exit poll, giving a boost to Matteo Salvini's League party.
Salvini issues new migrant ban as seeks to derail new coalition
Italy's outgoing interior minister, Matteo Salvini, has banned another migrant-rescue ship from docking in the country, using the issue of immigration to pile pressure on his main two political rivals as they seek to form a new government.
Defence ministers discussed artificial intelligence, killer robots, climate threat
EU defence ministers discussed artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons – also called “killer robots” –, hybrid threats and conflicts stemming from climate change, EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini told the press after an informal Council meeting in Helsinki on Thursday (29 August).
Make or break day in Italy in ‘craziest crisis ever’
Wednesday (28 August) is D-Day for fraught negotiations to form a new Italian government, failing which the eurozone's third largest economy will be forced to hold fresh elections.
Italy’s PD, 5-Star on verge of government deal with Conte as PM
The ruling 5-Star Movement and the opposition Democratic Party appeared on the verge of a deal to form a new Italian government on Monday (26 August) after the PD indicated it had abandoned a veto on Giuseppe Conte serving another term as prime minister.
Italy’s 5-Star, PD talks on new government hit stumbling block over PM Conte
Talks between Italy's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) to form a new government have hit a stumbling block over the PD's opposition to Giuseppe Conte being reinstated as prime minister.
Italy recalls Senate as no-confidence vote looms
Italy's political crisis edged forward on Monday (12 August) after party leaders decided to recall the Senate to vote on a timetable that could include a no-confidence vote and spell the end of the populist coalition.
Conte tells the Italian Senate he stands by League over Russia funding scandal
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Wednesday (24 July) he had continued trust in the League party within his coalition government despite allegations it had sought illicit funds from Russia.
Von der Leyen vote may trigger snap elections in Italy
Italy's two ruling parties clashed on Wednesday (18 July) over the election of German Ursula von der Leyen as the next president of the European Commission in a vote that could endanger Rome's hopes of securing a top job in the new EU executive.
Sea-Watch migrant rescue boat defies Salvini, enters Italian waters
The Sea-Watch 3 NGO boat carrying dozens of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean entered Italian waters Wednesday (26 June) off Lampedusa island despite the threat of hefty fines from Italy's far-right interior minister.
Italy’s Di Maio, Salvini slam EU debt warning
Italy's populist Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio on Wednesday (5 June) dismissed Brussels' formal warning over the country's excessive public spending as "too easy".
Italian PM Conte says he will resign if coalition squabbles persist
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said Monday (3 June) he was ready to resign unless the two parties in the governing populist coalition -- the League and the Five Star Movement -- stopped squabbling.
5-Star members back Di Maio to stay after EU election rout
Italy’s anti-establishment 5-Star Movement on Thursday (30 May) resoundingly backed Luigi Di Maio to carry on as leader following a bruising defeat in European parliamentary elections. Di Maio got the backing of 80% of the 56,127 5-Star members who voted...
EU to end ship patrols in scaled down Operation Sophia
The European Union will cease the maritime patrols that have rescued thousands of migrants making the perilous Mediterranean Sea crossing from North Africa to Europe, but it will extend air missions, two diplomats said on Tuesday (26 March).
Italy’s Senate shields Salvini from trial over Diciotti case
Italy's Senate voted Wednesday (20 March) to block the trial of far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini for allegedly illegally confining migrants rescued at sea by an Italian coastguard ship last year.
Italy’s Democratic Party leans left under new leader Zingaretti
Supporters of Italy's fractured centre-left opposition Democratic Party (PD) on Sunday (3 March) elected Nicola Zingaretti as new leader, an ex-communist son of a bank manager who will now take on the ruling populist coalition led by the far-right Lega.
Salvini says Commission approved the Italian budget
Italy has done a deal with the European Commission over its contested 2019 budget, a spokeswoman at the Economy Ministry said on Tuesday (18 December), signaling an end to weeks of wrangling that had shaken financial markets.
Juncker raps Italy for putting euro at risk, Di Maio denounces fiscal ‘terrorism’
A war of words took place days after Rome announced a big spending boost in defiance of the European Union that has spooked the markets and has EU capitals fearing a return of the debt crisis.