MNI SOURCE: Italy Lega, 5 Star Govt Deal At Hand, Maybe On Sat

By Silvia Marchetti

     ROME (MNI) - A coalition deal between Italy's Lega Party and the 5 Stars

Movement is expected to be ready for tomorrow, a senior source close the

negotiations told MNI late Friday.

     The official, a top Lega party deputy, elected in March, and who is

currently working on the agreement, expressed optimism over key program points

of convergence and said the document would be ready on Saturday.

     "We are working on it, and everything is going smoothly, according to

plans. There are no tensions. We aim to define it by tomorrow (Saturday) so as

to present it officially to the head of state Sergio Mattarella early next week,

as soon as possible," said the source.

     The deal between 5 Stars and the Lega will thus put an end to the prolonged

political stalemate that followed the Mar 4 election. Both parties had failed in

reaching agreement over the last two months, but when faced with the risk of

stepping aside to leave room for a technocrat government, they managed to get

past previous differences.

     Lega secured 18% of votes at the election and 5 Stars garnered 33.7%.

Together they have the necessary support to form a ruling majority.

     The two parties progressed towards a deal after former premier Silvio

Berlusconi's Forza Italia group -- a centre-right coalition ally of the Lega --

decided to take a step back and give the green light to the agreement.

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

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