Salvini Seeks Gov't Parties Meeting As Centre-Right Backs FI's Casellati

Wires and social media reporting that head of the right-wing populist League, Matteo Salvini, is seeking a meeting of representatives from all the parties in PM Mario Draghi's governing coalition ahead of today's fifth round of voting in the Italian presidential election.

• Comes as ANSA reports that the parties of the centre-right are set to back Senate Speaker Elisabetta Casellati from Forza Italia as their candidate for president.
• Gerardo Fortuna at Euractiv tweets: "How should we interpret the latest Salvini move? There are two options 1)tactical manoeuvring to check on the loyalty of his parliamentary troop[s], as the election is conducted through a secret vote 2)attempt to elect Casellati with the votes from non-attached + 5 Star Movement, According to some rumours, Casellati expressly asked to be voted [in] as President today, sending a text message to centre-right higher ups which said "You Must Vote [for] Me".Again, her election (or even the attempt of electing her) could lead to centre-left PD leaving the government"