ROME – Neither the M5S, nor the League appeared willing to back down as the parties were preparing to convene in government-formation consultations with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, one month after the elections in March.

 The M5S has maintained its firm stance on the next Prime Minister, insisting that the government must be led by Di Maio, “according to popular will,” whilst the League has kept a tight hold of its right-wing alliance with Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia. In the event of a government not being formed around Di Maio, the M5S has announced its “willingness to return to the vote.” The League leader, Matteo Salvini, however is far more apprehensive of revisiting the polls.

 In opposition to Di Maio’s tussle to become Prime Minister, and hoping not to be cut out of negotiations, Forza Italia continues to disrupt the process of forming a government. European Parliament President and member of Berlusconi’s party, Antonio Tajani, stated, “we will not let others decide who our ministers are.”

 Tajani added that “an executive cannot be formed without us [Forza Italtia],” stressing the party’s belief that, as part of the coalition with the highest number of votes, it has a responsibility to be included in government.

 Wednesday’s assembly at the Quirinale looks set to be a telling test for a potential M5S-League coalition, with plenty of friction expected between the leaders, Di Maio and Salvini. However, the two parties seem to be making progress towards a settlement with regard to the loosening of sanctions on Russia and the deportation of huge numbers of migrants from Italy.

 Meanwhile, there appears to be no quick-fix to the PD crisis as a delegation was preparing to speak to President Mattarella in discussions which were expected to foster highly-divided opinions on the party’s direction.

 The PD whip, Andrea Marcucci, told Stampa that it will remain an opposition party, somewhat echoed by caretaker leader, Maurizio Martina, who announced that the PD “will never be a crutch for the right.”

 Di Maio continues to underline that Forza Italia must be excluded from negotiations, as it would resist any attempts from the M5S to reform the system. Instead, he has expressed a preference to strike a deal with the League and the PD, although negotiations are likely to be anything but straightforward.

 Salvini’s stance further complicates Di Maio’s predicament, stating on his Facebook page that, “unlike the 5Stelle [M5S], the League excludes any government alliance with the Democratic Party rejected by the Italians.”

 Mattarella’s consultations were to commence at 10:30 on Wednesday with the President of the Senate, Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, later moving on to meetings with party leaders, seeking “proposals, indications and programmes to give the country a government up to the task.” Di Maio was to be welcomed last, at 16:30 on the 5^th April, following the President’s meeting with Salvini.

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