5-Star Movement Set To Maintain Support For Draghi Gov't-ANSA

The populist 5-Star Movement (M5S) of former PM Giuseppe Conte is set to maintain its continued support for the broad coalition gov't led by Prime Minister Mario Draghi according to Corriere Della Sera and INSA.

• Conte and Draghi are meeting today in an effort to clear the air between the two. Conte supposedly enraged at reports in the Italian press that Draghi had sought to encourage the M5S to oust Conte as its leader. Draghi has strenuously denied the allegations.
• This situation had led to speculation that Conte could withdraw M5S from the governing coalition. While this would not deprive the unity gov't of its majority, it would mean that the parties of the right would have a more dominant position within the coalition. As such, keeping M5S's support will be important to Draghi to maintain image of gov't as a broad unity gov't (Draghi of course is not an elected politician, instead a technocratic appointee).
• Next general election has to be held by 1 June 2023 at the latest. At present polls show a right-leaning coalition of the populist League, nationalist Brothers of Italy, and centre-right Forza Italia would be best positioned to form the next gov't.