MNI: Italy Lega Seeks Support, Centre-Right Just 40 MPs Shy

by Silvia Marchetti

     ROME (MNI) - Italy's Lega, the party now dominating the centre-right

coalition, is looking for just a few dozen deputies and senators from other

parties to form a new government, Market News learns.

     "The truth is, with our 37% vote share, we're the leading coalition and are

short of just 40 MPs to reach the required ruling majority that will pave way to

forming the next cabinet. That should not be mission impossible," a Lega

newly-elected deputy who preferred not to be named told MNI. 

     The official said he was optimistic that Lega leader Matteo Salvini would

be able to rally the necessary support willing to join forces with the

centre-right coalition.

     "Given that our party won 18% of the votes, that makes us the largest

stakeholder of the centre-right and, according to the coalition rules, Salvini

is now the leader in charge of vetting possible alliances, talking to all other

party representatives," said the deputy.

     --TALKS ONGOING

     Talks have been held with the 5 Star Movement, the party who topped the

polls, with the "new" Renzi-less Democrats and also with the left-leaning Free

and Equal party. 

     A first deal among parties is expected to be reached in the next day or two

over the appointment of the new parliament's senate and lower house presidents,

said the official.

     "Lega, and by extension the centre-right, should get the Senate seat; 5

Star the Lower House, but nothing is definite yet," he noted. 

     In his view, there could also be a government agreement with 5SM if

parliament votes go smoothly, or even with a few Democrat party members who are

willing to abandon the opposition and team up with the centre-right.

     --NEED 40 RELIABLES 

     The underlining strategy is that it doesn't really matter who the

centre-right coalition allies with, as long as there is some convergence on key

program points with at least 40 "reliable" MPs who won't pull-back at the first

obstacle. 

     However, "an alliance with the whole Democrat party is quite far-fetched,"

said another source close to the centre-right. 

     "But given their internal woes due to the transition period towards a new

leadership, there could be another division between the intransigent Democrat

hawks and softer doves, with the latter opting to side with us to guarantee

governability. And it wouldn't be the first time". 

     A similar scenario happened in previous elections, argued the source, with

the Democrats mustering support. 

     "Back in 2013, the elected Democrats lacked the required majority to rule,

but then the centre-right split and a group of anti-Berlusconi dissidents moved

away and supported the leftist government for the 5 whole years," the source

said. 

     But if Lega's "360-degree scouting led nowhere, failing to strike a wide

political agreement with other forces", a second vote could be unavoidable,

warned the party official. 

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: M$E$$$,M$I$$$,M$X$$$,MC$$$$,MI$$$$,MX$$$$]