Italy's parliament votes Tuesday on cutting the number of the country's lawmakers, a move linked to an electoral law reform that the left-leaning government hopes will help keep the far-right from power.

Slashing the number of MPs and senators in Italy by 345 was a flagship manifesto promise of the anti-establishment <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/italys-5-star-makes-deal-with-pd-to-avoid-elections-246334">Five Star Movement</a>, which rules in coalition with the country's center-left, and has promised voters it would tackle political elitism and wasteful spending.

Italy currently has the second-highest number of lawmakers in the EU after Britain -- some 630 elected representatives in the lower house and 315 in the Senate.

The constitutional reform, which will likely be subjected to a popular referendum in the coming months, would cut the number of MPs to 400 and senators to 200 from the next legislature, with an expected saving of some 100 million euros ($110 million) a year.

"It's a well-balanced reform with an excellent profile," legal expert Guido Neppi Modona told Il Fatto Quotidiano on Monday.

A reduced number of lawmakers will "lead parties to take particular care in choosing candidates," he said.

Critics have warned the cut could affect popular representation, and increase the influence of lobbyists over governing institutions -- all for a minimal saving that will have little effect on debt-laden Italy's book balance.

This is the country's eighth attempt to cut its number lawmakers since 1983, according to the Open news website.

This time it is broadly expected to be successful, with most opposition parties on board -- though the head of Italy's far-right League Matteo Salvini on Friday warned his party would wait to see if the law was "mere horse-trading".

Five Star (M5S) made the cut a condition of its alliance with the center-left Democratic Party (PD), following the collapse of the previous, far-right coalition in August.

The PD had previously voted against the reduction, but agreed to support it if it meant clinching a deal with the M5S which would prevent a return to the polls and keep popular hardliner Salvini out of power.

The party has insisted the cut be followed by a new electoral law and is pushing for the reintroduction of a proportional representation system.

Under the current mix of proportional representation and first-past-the-post, a winning coalition needs more than 40 percent of the vote to have the necessary parliamentary majority.

With full proportional representation, parties or coalitions would need a much bigger majority to form a government.

That would force Salvini to ditch any plans to run alone or with a small fellow far-right party at the next election, and force him instead to turn to former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's center-right Forza Italy party for help, the weekly L'Espresso said.

"Why the haste to cut the seats?" Massimo Luciani said in the Corriere Della Sera newspaper, pointing out that the coalition government -- an unlikely alliance of former foes -- could fall before changes to the electoral law can be made.

"To avoid 'surprises', the package of reforms should be launched at the same time," he said.

Lorenzo Codogno, former chief economist at the Italian Treasury Department, told AFP the pressing need to change the electoral law could serve as glue to hold the coalition together.

He warned however that "I have a feeling that (the electoral law) won't happen very soon".

International markets and European investors watching the stability of the new coalition was right "to worry about everything," he said.

Italy's parliament votes Tuesday on cutting the number of the country's lawmakers, a move linked to an electoral law reform that the left-leaning government hopes will help keep the far-right from power.

Italy's parliament votes Tuesday on cutting the number of the country's lawmakers, a move linked to an electoral law reform that the left-leaning government hopes will help keep the far-right from power. Slashing the number of MPs and senators in Italy by 345 was a flagship manifesto promise of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which rules in coalition with the country's center-left, and has promised voters it would tackle political elitism and wasteful spending. Italy currently has the second-highest number of lawmakers in the EU after Britain -- some 630 elected representatives in the lower house and 315 in the Senate. The constitutional reform, which will likely be subjected to a popular referendum in the coming months, would cut the number of MPs to 400 and senators to 200 from the next legislature, with an expected saving of some 100 million euros ($110 million) a year. "It's a well-balanced reform with an excellent profile," legal expert Guido Neppi Modona told Il Fatto Quotidiano on Monday. A reduced number of lawmakers will "lead parties to take particular care in choosing candidates," he said. Critics have warned the cut could affect popular representation, and increase the influence of lobbyists over governing institutions -- all for a minimal saving that will have little effect on debt-laden Italy's book balance. This is the country's eighth attempt to cut its number lawmakers since 1983, according to the Open news website. This time it is broadly expected to be successful, with most opposition parties on board -- though the head of Italy's far-right League Matteo Salvini on Friday warned his party would wait to see if the law was "mere horse-trading". Five Star (M5S) made the cut a condition of its alliance with the center-left Democratic Party (PD), following the collapse of the previous, far-right coalition in August. The PD had previously voted against the reduction, but agreed to support it if it meant clinching a deal with the M5S which would prevent a return to the polls and keep popular hardliner Salvini out of power. The party has insisted the cut be followed by a new electoral law and is pushing for the reintroduction of a proportional representation system. Under the current mix of proportional representation and first-past-the-post, a winning coalition needs more than 40 percent of the vote to have the necessary parliamentary majority. With full proportional representation, parties or coalitions would need a much bigger majority to form a government. That would force Salvini to ditch any plans to run alone or with a small fellow far-right party at the next election, and force him instead to turn to former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's center-right Forza Italy party for help, the weekly L'Espresso said. "Why the haste to cut the seats?" Massimo Luciani said in the Corriere Della Sera newspaper, pointing out that the coalition government -- an unlikely alliance of former foes -- could fall before changes to the electoral law can be made. "To avoid 'surprises', the package of reforms should be launched at the same time," he said. Lorenzo Codogno, former chief economist at the Italian Treasury Department, told AFP the pressing need to change the electoral law could serve as glue to hold the coalition together. He warned however that "I have a feeling that (the electoral law) won't happen very soon". International markets and European investors watching the stability of the new coalition was right "to worry about everything," he said.

Italy to vote on streamlining parliament

Far-right Interior Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italy-government-wins-a-confidence-vote-on-decree-targeting-migrant-rescue-ships-241066">Matteo Salvini pulled his support for Italy's governing coalition</a> on Thursday and called for snap elections, prompting the country's premier to demand that he "justify" his decision to provoke a political crisis. &nbsp;

Salvini, whose hardline League Party has already called for snap polls, has clashed with his fellow Deputy Prime Minister Luigi di Maio of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) party over a range of policies.

He stepped up the pressure on Thursday, saying there was no longer a majority to support a government and calling for new elections.

"Let's go straight to parliament to say there is no longer a majority... and quickly go back to the voters," Salvini said.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who had held separate talks with Salvini and the country's President Sergio Mattarella as the crisis deepened, said in a statement later that the interior minister doesn't summon parliament and "it's not up to him to dictate the steps of the political crisis."

Conte called on Salvini "to explain to the country and justify to the electorate, who believed in the possibility of change, the reasons that brought him to abruptly interrupt" the activities of the government. &nbsp;

Both houses of parliament are currently on recess for the holidays and are not due back until September.

Long-rumbling tensions between the 14-month-old coalition's populist leaders have peaked in recent days, with the row centred on the financing of a multi-billion-euro high-speed train line.

Shifting political sands

An early election may benefit Salvini, with recent opinion polls putting his League party ahead, leaving open the possibility that it could govern in alliance with another, a smaller far-right party, Fratelli d'Italia.

That reflects the inversion in the popularity of the coalition partners, which came to power in June 2018 after an election that saw M5S take 32 per cent of the vote, while the League scored 17 per cent.

In the European election in May this year, however, the League took the most votes in Italy with 34 per cent. M5S received around 17 per cent.&nbsp;

The partnership, which has been rocked by ongoing spats, has appeared to sour further in recent weeks.

Italian media has reported that Salvini, in earlier talks with Conte, set conditions for staying in the coalition -- including the resignation of the transport, defence and economy ministers, who have resisted his projects and policies.

"The League and M5S have been diverging in their vision for too long, on matters that are fundamental for the country," the League said in its statement on Thursday.

"This government's only option is to let Italians have their say" by calling elections, it added.

Salvini on Thursday denounced "repeated insults against me and the League by supposed allies".&nbsp;

Later at a meeting in the central coastal city of Pescara, he set a campaigning tone.

"We are told that we cannot reduce taxes. We will prove if you give us the power to do so, that it is possible to reduce taxes on Italian workers," Salvini told supporters.&nbsp;

Snap elections?

For his part, Di Maio said that his M5S party "is ready" to return to the polls.&nbsp;

The opposition has also called on the government to resign, arguing it no longer has a workable majority in parliament after Di Maio voted against the Lyon-Turin rail project, which involves an 8.6-billion-euro ($9.8-billion) tunnel through the Alps.

But President Mattarella, who has the sole power to dissolve parliament, has insisted there must be a government in place to finalise the budget, a first draft of which has to be submitted to EU authorities by the end of September.

The government is struggling to rein in its public deficit and its mammoth debt mountain of more than 2.3 trillion euros.

Italian news agency AIG on Thursday said that the Senate could convene as early as August 20 in order to declare the end of the government, with the dissolution of parliament possible in the following days.&nbsp;

According to Italy's constitution, new elections would then have to be held within 50 to 70 days.

Far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini pulled his support for Italy's governing coalition on Thursday and called for snap elections, prompting the country's premier to demand that he "justify" his decision to provoke a political crisis.

Far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini pulled his support for Italy's governing coalition on Thursday and called for snap elections, prompting the country's premier to demand that he "justify" his decision to provoke a political crisis. Salvini, whose hardline League Party has already called for snap polls, has clashed with his fellow Deputy Prime Minister Luigi di Maio of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) party over a range of policies. He stepped up the pressure on Thursday, saying there was no longer a majority to support a government and calling for new elections. "Let's go straight to parliament to say there is no longer a majority... and quickly go back to the voters," Salvini said. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who had held separate talks with Salvini and the country's President Sergio Mattarella as the crisis deepened, said in a statement later that the interior minister doesn't summon parliament and "it's not up to him to dictate the steps of the political crisis." Conte called on Salvini "to explain to the country and justify to the electorate, who believed in the possibility of change, the reasons that brought him to abruptly interrupt" the activities of the government. Both houses of parliament are currently on recess for the holidays and are not due back until September. Long-rumbling tensions between the 14-month-old coalition's populist leaders have peaked in recent days, with the row centred on the financing of a multi-billion-euro high-speed train line. Shifting political sands An early election may benefit Salvini, with recent opinion polls putting his League party ahead, leaving open the possibility that it could govern in alliance with another, a smaller far-right party, Fratelli d'Italia. That reflects the inversion in the popularity of the coalition partners, which came to power in June 2018 after an election that saw M5S take 32 per cent of the vote, while the League scored 17 per cent. In the European election in May this year, however, the League took the most votes in Italy with 34 per cent. M5S received around 17 per cent. The partnership, which has been rocked by ongoing spats, has appeared to sour further in recent weeks. Italian media has reported that Salvini, in earlier talks with Conte, set conditions for staying in the coalition -- including the resignation of the transport, defence and economy ministers, who have resisted his projects and policies. "The League and M5S have been diverging in their vision for too long, on matters that are fundamental for the country," the League said in its statement on Thursday. "This government's only option is to let Italians have their say" by calling elections, it added. Salvini on Thursday denounced "repeated insults against me and the League by supposed allies". Later at a meeting in the central coastal city of Pescara, he set a campaigning tone. "We are told that we cannot reduce taxes. We will prove if you give us the power to do so, that it is possible to reduce taxes on Italian workers," Salvini told supporters. Snap elections? For his part, Di Maio said that his M5S party "is ready" to return to the polls. The opposition has also called on the government to resign, arguing it no longer has a workable majority in parliament after Di Maio voted against the Lyon-Turin rail project, which involves an 8.6-billion-euro ($9.8-billion) tunnel through the Alps. But President Mattarella, who has the sole power to dissolve parliament, has insisted there must be a government in place to finalise the budget, a first draft of which has to be submitted to EU authorities by the end of September. The government is struggling to rein in its public deficit and its mammoth debt mountain of more than 2.3 trillion euros. Italian news agency AIG on Thursday said that the Senate could convene as early as August 20 in order to declare the end of the government, with the dissolution of parliament possible in the following days. According to Italy's constitution, new elections would then have to be held within 50 to 70 days.

Interior minister Matteo Salvini pulls support for Italian coalition, calls for snap polls

Italy's new prime minister Giuseppe Conte mostly kept quiet on his full first day in office Saturday, while his two powerful deputies took centre stage in setting the tone of the populist government's policy.

Conte, a political novice, was finally sworn in on Friday as the head of a government of ministers from the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the far-right League, ending months of uncertainty since elections in March.

But Conte was a compromise candidate between Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio and the League's Matteo Salvini -- both of whom are now his deputy prime ministers -- and he will have to walk a delicate line to push through the anti-austerity and pro-security promises their populist parties campaigned on.

The 53-year-old academic also inherited a daunting list of issues from his predecessor Paolo Gentiloni, including the financial travails of companies such as Ilva and Alitalia, a Group of Seven summit in Canada and a key EU summit at the end of the month, as well as the thorny question of immigration.

Immigration is the bugbear of Conte's interior minister, Salvini, the 45-year-old leader of the anti-immigrant, anti-Islam League.&nbsp

Salvini announced Friday that he would visit Sicily to see the situation for himself at one of the main landing points for refugees fleeing war, persecution and famine across North Africa and the Middle East.

"The good times for illegals is over -- get ready to pack your bags," Salvini said at a rally in Italy's north on Saturday, adding however that he wants to economically assist migrants' countries of origin.

His comments come after more than 150 migrants, including nine children, disembarked from a rescue ship late Friday in Sicily.

From today, the state is us

Conte attended a military parade alongside President Sergio Mattarella on Saturday, marking Republic Day for the foundation of the Italian Republic in 1946.

However the new prime minister has issued few public statements since being appointed.

On Saturday he did post on Facebook that he had spoken with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron and would meet the two leaders at the G7 summit, where he will be a "spokesman for the interests of Italian citizens".

Conte has also opted to keep the country's intelligence services under his personal control.&nbsp

Deputy premier Di Maio, who is serving as economic development minister, also took to Facebook, calling for "entrepreneurs to be left alone".

"Employers and employees in Italy must not be enemies," he said, promising "I will not disappoint you".

On Saturday evening Five Star held a rally in the centre of Rome with thousands of supporters and all its ministers to celebrate "the government of change".

Di Maio told the crowd that "from today, the state is us".

Five Star's founder, former comic Beppe Grillo, rang a bell in front of the crowd, saying the sound "marks the fracture between a world that is going away and a new one that is arriving".

EU and the eurosceptics

The world will be carefully watching power relations between Conte and his two influential deputies -- particularly the European Union, given the eurosceptic government is the first populist coalition in a founding EU member.

EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker called Saturday for Conte's new government to be treated with respect, having earlier sparked controversy by telling Italians to work harder and stop blaming the EU for the country's problems.&nbsp

"We should show respect towards Italy," Juncker said in an interview with the German press group Funke Mediengruppe.

Juncker said Italy must not suffer the same fate as thrice-bailed out Greece whose dignity was "trodden under foot" by its creditors when left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras took office in 2015.

"That must not happen again in the present case with Italy," Juncker said.

"Italians have a clear understanding of what is good for their country. They will sort it out."

Italy's new prime minister Giuseppe Conte mostly kept quiet on his full first day in office Saturday, while his two powerful deputies took centre stage in setting the tone of the populist government's policy

Italy's new prime minister Giuseppe Conte mostly kept quiet on his full first day in office Saturday, while his two powerful deputies took centre stage in setting the tone of the populist government's policy. Conte, a political novice, was finally sworn in on Friday as the head of a government of ministers from the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the far-right League, ending months of uncertainty since elections in March. But Conte was a compromise candidate between Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio and the League's Matteo Salvini -- both of whom are now his deputy prime ministers -- and he will have to walk a delicate line to push through the anti-austerity and pro-security promises their populist parties campaigned on. The 53-year-old academic also inherited a daunting list of issues from his predecessor Paolo Gentiloni, including the financial travails of companies such as Ilva and Alitalia, a Group of Seven summit in Canada and a key EU summit at the end of the month, as well as the thorny question of immigration. Immigration is the bugbear of Conte's interior minister, Salvini, the 45-year-old leader of the anti-immigrant, anti-Islam League. Salvini announced Friday that he would visit Sicily to see the situation for himself at one of the main landing points for refugees fleeing war, persecution and famine across North Africa and the Middle East. "The good times for illegals is over -- get ready to pack your bags," Salvini said at a rally in Italy's north on Saturday, adding however that he wants to economically assist migrants' countries of origin. His comments come after more than 150 migrants, including nine children, disembarked from a rescue ship late Friday in Sicily. From today, the state is us Conte attended a military parade alongside President Sergio Mattarella on Saturday, marking Republic Day for the foundation of the Italian Republic in 1946. However the new prime minister has issued few public statements since being appointed. On Saturday he did post on Facebook that he had spoken with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron and would meet the two leaders at the G7 summit, where he will be a "spokesman for the interests of Italian citizens". Conte has also opted to keep the country's intelligence services under his personal control. Deputy premier Di Maio, who is serving as economic development minister, also took to Facebook, calling for "entrepreneurs to be left alone". "Employers and employees in Italy must not be enemies," he said, promising "I will not disappoint you". On Saturday evening Five Star held a rally in the centre of Rome with thousands of supporters and all its ministers to celebrate "the government of change". Di Maio told the crowd that "from today, the state is us". Five Star's founder, former comic Beppe Grillo, rang a bell in front of the crowd, saying the sound "marks the fracture between a world that is going away and a new one that is arriving". EU and the eurosceptics The world will be carefully watching power relations between Conte and his two influential deputies -- particularly the European Union, given the eurosceptic government is the first populist coalition in a founding EU member. EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker called Saturday for Conte's new government to be treated with respect, having earlier sparked controversy by telling Italians to work harder and stop blaming the EU for the country's problems. "We should show respect towards Italy," Juncker said in an interview with the German press group Funke Mediengruppe. Juncker said Italy must not suffer the same fate as thrice-bailed out Greece whose dignity was "trodden under foot" by its creditors when left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras took office in 2015. "That must not happen again in the present case with Italy," Juncker said. "Italians have a clear understanding of what is good for their country. They will sort it out."

New Italy PM starts off in shadow of his powerful deputies

Italy could be forced to hold new elections after Giuseppe Conte gave up his bid to form a government following the collapse of talks with the president over including a eurosceptic economy minister in his cabinet.

Conte, 53, a lawyer and political novice, picked for prime minister by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and far-right League seeking to form a coalition, had to present a list of ministers that the head of state would agreed to before his government could seek approval by parliament.

"I have given up my mandate to form the government of change," said Conte to reporters after leaving failed talks with President Sergio Mattarella.

Conte's decision to step aside leaves Italy in a political crisis nearly three months after March's inconclusive general election.

Following Conte's exit, Mattarella has summoned Carlo Cottarelli, an economist formerly with the International Monetary Fund, for talks on Monday, with a temporary technical government on the table as Italy faces the strong possibility of new elections in the autumn.

Cottarelli, 64, was director of the IMF's fiscal affairs department from 2008 to 2013 and became known as "Mr Scissors" for making cuts to public spending in Italy.

However, he will struggle to gain the approval of parliament with Five Star and the League commanding a majority in both houses.

"They've replaced a government with a majority with one that won't obtain one," said Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio to supporters at a rally near Rome.

Savona choice sinks deal

Mattarella confirmed that the nomination by Five Star and the League of Paolo Savona for economy minister saw the end of Conte's brief mandate.

In his latest book, "Like a Nightmare and a Dream", 81-year-old Savona calls the euro a "German cage" and says that Italy needs a plan to leave the single currency "if necessary".

"I accepted every proposed minister apart from the minister of the economy," Mattarella told reporters.

A former judge of Italy's constitutional court, Mattarella has refused to bow to what he saw as "diktats" from the two parties which he considered contrary to the country's interests.

He had watched for weeks as Five Star and the League set about trying to strike an alliance that would give Italy's hung parliament a majority.

The president said that he has done "everything possible" to aid the formation of a government, but that an openly eurosceptic economy minister ran against the parties' joint promise to simply "change Europe for the better from an Italian point of view".

"I asked for the (economy) ministry an authoritative person from the parliamentary majority who is consistent with the government programme... who isn't seen as a supporter of a line that could probably, or even inevitably, provoke Italy's exit from the euro," he added.

Mattarella said Conte refused to support "any other solution" and then, faced with the president's refusal to approve the choice of Savona, gave up his mandate to be prime minister.

Furious reaction

The leaders of Five Star and the League, Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini, were infuriated by Mattarella's refusal to accept Savona, a respected financier and economist.

Salvini, who was Savona's biggest advocate and a fellow eurosceptic, said on Sunday that Italy wasn't a "colony", and that "we won't have Germany tell us what to do".

"Why don't we just say that in this country it's pointless that we vote, as the ratings agencies, financial lobbies decide the governments," a livid Di Maio said in a video on Facebook.

Later on Italian television he called for impeaching Mattarella.

"I hope that we can give the floor to Italians as soon as possible, but first we need to clear things up. First the impeachment of Mattarella... then to the polls," Di Maio said

Italy could be forced to hold new elections after Giuseppe Conte gave up his bid to form a government following the collapse of talks with the president over including a eurosceptic economy minister in his cabinet

Italy could be forced to hold new elections after Giuseppe Conte gave up his bid to form a government following the collapse of talks with the president over including a eurosceptic economy minister in his cabinet. Conte, 53, a lawyer and political novice, picked for prime minister by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and far-right League seeking to form a coalition, had to present a list of ministers that the head of state would agreed to before his government could seek approval by parliament. "I have given up my mandate to form the government of change," said Conte to reporters after leaving failed talks with President Sergio Mattarella. Conte's decision to step aside leaves Italy in a political crisis nearly three months after March's inconclusive general election. Following Conte's exit, Mattarella has summoned Carlo Cottarelli, an economist formerly with the International Monetary Fund, for talks on Monday, with a temporary technical government on the table as Italy faces the strong possibility of new elections in the autumn. Cottarelli, 64, was director of the IMF's fiscal affairs department from 2008 to 2013 and became known as "Mr Scissors" for making cuts to public spending in Italy. However, he will struggle to gain the approval of parliament with Five Star and the League commanding a majority in both houses. "They've replaced a government with a majority with one that won't obtain one," said Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio to supporters at a rally near Rome. Savona choice sinks deal Mattarella confirmed that the nomination by Five Star and the League of Paolo Savona for economy minister saw the end of Conte's brief mandate. In his latest book, "Like a Nightmare and a Dream", 81-year-old Savona calls the euro a "German cage" and says that Italy needs a plan to leave the single currency "if necessary". "I accepted every proposed minister apart from the minister of the economy," Mattarella told reporters. A former judge of Italy's constitutional court, Mattarella has refused to bow to what he saw as "diktats" from the two parties which he considered contrary to the country's interests. He had watched for weeks as Five Star and the League set about trying to strike an alliance that would give Italy's hung parliament a majority. The president said that he has done "everything possible" to aid the formation of a government, but that an openly eurosceptic economy minister ran against the parties' joint promise to simply "change Europe for the better from an Italian point of view". "I asked for the (economy) ministry an authoritative person from the parliamentary majority who is consistent with the government programme... who isn't seen as a supporter of a line that could probably, or even inevitably, provoke Italy's exit from the euro," he added. Mattarella said Conte refused to support "any other solution" and then, faced with the president's refusal to approve the choice of Savona, gave up his mandate to be prime minister. Furious reaction The leaders of Five Star and the League, Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini, were infuriated by Mattarella's refusal to accept Savona, a respected financier and economist. Salvini, who was Savona's biggest advocate and a fellow eurosceptic, said on Sunday that Italy wasn't a "colony", and that "we won't have Germany tell us what to do". "Why don't we just say that in this country it's pointless that we vote, as the ratings agencies, financial lobbies decide the governments," a livid Di Maio said in a video on Facebook. Later on Italian television he called for impeaching Mattarella. "I hope that we can give the floor to Italians as soon as possible, but first we need to clear things up. First the impeachment of Mattarella... then to the polls," Di Maio said

Italy plunges into political crisis after government talks collapse

Dozens of Italians have been queueing at tax offices to claim money promised by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement in the weekend election -- even though the party is not yet in power.

A key election pledge of the Five Star Movement (M5S) was to provide a universal basic income for the unemployed ranging from 700 euros ($860) to 3,000 euros.

The party scooped up 33 per cent of the national vote in Sunday&#39;s ballot, becoming the country&#39;s biggest single party, but it did not win as many votes a rightwing coalition, so both camps are in the process of finding allies to form a parliamentary majority.

However, the political stalemate has not stopped voters in southern Italy from already demanding that the M5S make good on its election pledge.

&quot;The Five Star Movement has won. Give us the forms to get the universal income,&quot; people told employees at a local tax office in the Giovinazzo, near the city of Bari, Italian media reported.

Since the start of the week, at least 50 people have shown up at another tax office in Bari itself to obtain information about the scheme, according to an official.

&quot;For all those who come to ask if the forms are already ready, we have prepared a... response saying that for now there are no measures in place for such a document,&quot; the unnamed official told a&nbsp;newspaper.

Meanwhile, a tax centre in the city of Palermo even put up a sign reading: &quot;We don&#39;t offer universal basic income.&quot;

The Five Star Movement&#39;s scheme -- which comes with certain conditions -- has proven particularly popular with young voters in a country where unemployment for those aged 25-34 runs at 17 per cent.

However, the plan has drawn stinging criticism from the other political parties, with opponents slamming it as a reward for laziness.&nbsp;

According to media estimates, the measure would cost the Italian state some 15 billion euros per year -- a heavy burden on the heavily indebted European Union member.

A key election pledge of the Five Star Movement (M5S) was to provide a universal basic income for the unemployed ranging from 700 euros ($860) to 3,000 euros

Dozens of Italians have been queueing at tax offices to claim money promised by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement in the weekend election -- even though the party is not yet in power. A key election pledge of the Five Star Movement (M5S) was to provide a universal basic income for the unemployed ranging from 700 euros ($860) to 3,000 euros. The party scooped up 33 per cent of the national vote in Sunday's ballot, becoming the country's biggest single party, but it did not win as many votes a rightwing coalition, so both camps are in the process of finding allies to form a parliamentary majority. However, the political stalemate has not stopped voters in southern Italy from already demanding that the M5S make good on its election pledge. "The Five Star Movement has won. Give us the forms to get the universal income," people told employees at a local tax office in the Giovinazzo, near the city of Bari, Italian media reported. Since the start of the week, at least 50 people have shown up at another tax office in Bari itself to obtain information about the scheme, according to an official. "For all those who come to ask if the forms are already ready, we have prepared a... response saying that for now there are no measures in place for such a document," the unnamed official told a newspaper. Meanwhile, a tax centre in the city of Palermo even put up a sign reading: "We don't offer universal basic income." The Five Star Movement's scheme -- which comes with certain conditions -- has proven particularly popular with young voters in a country where unemployment for those aged 25-34 runs at 17 per cent. However, the plan has drawn stinging criticism from the other political parties, with opponents slamming it as a reward for laziness. According to media estimates, the measure would cost the Italian state some 15 billion euros per year -- a heavy burden on the heavily indebted European Union member.

Italians queue for free cash promised by Five Star

Media mogul Silvio Berlusconi&#39;s right-wing coalition was set to win the most votes but could fall short of a majority in Italy&#39;s election Sunday, with far-right and populist parties surging ahead, according to exit polls.

Berlusconi&#39;s grouping was expected to win between 31 and 41 percent of the vote, followed by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement with 29-32 percent, according to an exit poll by Rai public television.

The ruling centre-left Democratic Party, which struggled to get across its message of steady economic handling, was left in third place, according to the exit polls.&nbsp;Anger at the hundreds of thousands of migrant arrivals in Italy in recent years fired up a campaign, along with frustration about Italy&#39;s slow economic recovery.

The boost for far-right and populist parties has drawn comparisons to Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union and the rise of US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;&quot;The European Union is going to have a bad night,&quot; Marine Le Pen, leader of France&#39;s National Front, tweeted.

The Five Star Movement and the far-right League party, a member of Berlusconi&#39;s coalition, are both eurosceptic.&nbsp;&quot;Everyone is going to have to come and speak to us,&quot; Alessandro Di Battista, a leading member of the Five Star Movement, told reporters at the group&#39;s Rome rally.

The League, whose leader Matteo Salvini has been criticised for his Islamophobic rhetoric, was polling neck-and-neck with Berlusconi&#39;s Forza Italia (Go Italy).

One prediction said the League may even come first which would change the balance of power in the coalition.

Berlusconi, a flamboyant three-time former prime minister, cannot hold elected office because of a fraud conviction but has put forward European Parliament President Antonio Tajani as his prime ministerial nominee.

Salvini has said he should receive the prime ministerial nomination if his party comes in front -- a prospect that has spooked investors and European capitals.

The campaign was a gloomy one marred by clashes between far-right and anti-fascist activists, as well as a racist shooting spree by an extreme right sympathiser last month.

The right has promised to deport 600,000 &quot;illegal&quot; migrants -- a prospect judged unfeasible by its rivals.

Former White House adviser Steve Bannon -- the&nbsp;man who helped Trump ride a populist wave to power -- characterised the election as &quot;pure populism&quot;.

&quot;The Italian people have gone farther, in a shorter period of time, than the British did for Brexit and the Americans did for Trump,&quot; Bannon, who was visiting Italy for the election, told the New York Times.

Bannon called a possible post-election deal between the Five Star Movement and the League &quot;the ultimate dream&quot;.&nbsp;If no grouping wins an overall majority, analysts say one scenario could be a grand coalition between the ruling centre-left Democratic Party and Berlusconi&#39;s Forza Italia -- a prospect that would reassure investors.

Berlusconi, who won his first election in 1994, has returned to the limelight at the age of 81 despite a career overshadowed by sex scandals and legal woes.

The billionaire was ambushed as he cast his vote in Milan by a topless woman from the Femen activist group who had &quot;Berlusconi, you have expired&quot; scrawled across her torso.

In the event of a stalemate, President Sergio Mattarella will have the key role of choosing a prime ministerial nominee who could command a majority in parliament but negotiations could take weeks or even months.

&quot;The verdict in Italy is always the same: the country is in constant instability. Being ungovernable has become endemic,&quot; said Claudio Tito, columnist for La Repubblica.

The Five Star Movement, which was founded in 2009 by a web entrepreneur and a former comedian, has tapped into disillusionment with traditional parties.

&quot;I voted for the right and Berlusconi in the past... but this time I&#39;m voting Five Star Movement to be against the parties that have always stolen,&quot; said 24-year-old pastry chef Francesco Tagliavini at a polling station in Rome&#39;s Tor Marancia neighbourhood.

&quot;We hope something will change because until now things have been very bad,&quot; said Enzo Gallo, an elderly shopper at a street market in Milan.

The boost for far-right and populist parties has drawn comparisons to Britain's vote to leave the European Union and the rise of US President Donald Trump.

Media mogul Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing coalition was set to win the most votes but could fall short of a majority in Italy's election Sunday, with far-right and populist parties surging ahead, according to exit polls. Berlusconi's grouping was expected to win between 31 and 41 percent of the vote, followed by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement with 29-32 percent, according to an exit poll by Rai public television. The ruling centre-left Democratic Party, which struggled to get across its message of steady economic handling, was left in third place, according to the exit polls. Anger at the hundreds of thousands of migrant arrivals in Italy in recent years fired up a campaign, along with frustration about Italy's slow economic recovery. The boost for far-right and populist parties has drawn comparisons to Britain's vote to leave the European Union and the rise of US President Donald Trump. "The European Union is going to have a bad night," Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Front, tweeted. The Five Star Movement and the far-right League party, a member of Berlusconi's coalition, are both eurosceptic. "Everyone is going to have to come and speak to us," Alessandro Di Battista, a leading member of the Five Star Movement, told reporters at the group's Rome rally. The League, whose leader Matteo Salvini has been criticised for his Islamophobic rhetoric, was polling neck-and-neck with Berlusconi's Forza Italia (Go Italy). One prediction said the League may even come first which would change the balance of power in the coalition. Berlusconi, a flamboyant three-time former prime minister, cannot hold elected office because of a fraud conviction but has put forward European Parliament President Antonio Tajani as his prime ministerial nominee. Salvini has said he should receive the prime ministerial nomination if his party comes in front -- a prospect that has spooked investors and European capitals. The campaign was a gloomy one marred by clashes between far-right and anti-fascist activists, as well as a racist shooting spree by an extreme right sympathiser last month. The right has promised to deport 600,000 "illegal" migrants -- a prospect judged unfeasible by its rivals. Former White House adviser Steve Bannon -- the man who helped Trump ride a populist wave to power -- characterised the election as "pure populism". "The Italian people have gone farther, in a shorter period of time, than the British did for Brexit and the Americans did for Trump," Bannon, who was visiting Italy for the election, told the New York Times. Bannon called a possible post-election deal between the Five Star Movement and the League "the ultimate dream". If no grouping wins an overall majority, analysts say one scenario could be a grand coalition between the ruling centre-left Democratic Party and Berlusconi's Forza Italia -- a prospect that would reassure investors. Berlusconi, who won his first election in 1994, has returned to the limelight at the age of 81 despite a career overshadowed by sex scandals and legal woes. The billionaire was ambushed as he cast his vote in Milan by a topless woman from the Femen activist group who had "Berlusconi, you have expired" scrawled across her torso. In the event of a stalemate, President Sergio Mattarella will have the key role of choosing a prime ministerial nominee who could command a majority in parliament but negotiations could take weeks or even months. "The verdict in Italy is always the same: the country is in constant instability. Being ungovernable has become endemic," said Claudio Tito, columnist for La Repubblica. The Five Star Movement, which was founded in 2009 by a web entrepreneur and a former comedian, has tapped into disillusionment with traditional parties. "I voted for the right and Berlusconi in the past... but this time I'm voting Five Star Movement to be against the parties that have always stolen," said 24-year-old pastry chef Francesco Tagliavini at a polling station in Rome's Tor Marancia neighbourhood. "We hope something will change because until now things have been very bad," said Enzo Gallo, an elderly shopper at a street market in Milan.

Italy elections: Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing coalition set to win most votes

Italy&#39;s anti-establishment Five Star movement (M5S) has achieved a major breakthrough by winning&nbsp;Rome&#39;s mayoral election. 
 
The country&#39;s second biggest political force is a hard-to-describe broad church, resisting traditional categories of left and right and defined by its anti-establishment stance. 
 
 
How did it emerge? 
 
M5S was founded by comedian Beppe Grillo in 2009 as an alternative to established politicians and institutions in a country long blighted by corruption. 
 
It eschewed traditional political channels and the media for civic lists and citizen meet-ups, embracing the expletive &quot;vaffanculo&quot; (&quot;go screw yourself&quot;) as a political slogan. 
 
Co-founder Gianroberto Casaleggio, a communications entrepreneur considered the M5S&#39;s &quot;guru&quot; until his death in April, created a series of online platforms for &quot;direct democracy&quot;, and all the&nbsp;party&#39;s candidates are elected online. 
 
What does it want? 
 
The&nbsp;party&nbsp;is built on the dual pillars of mistrust of traditional politics and honesty of its members. 
 
It wants greater transparency, a reduction in political salaries, action in favour of the environment, a referendum on the euro, growth measures for small and medium businesses and free Internet for all. 
 
Populist or leftist? 
 
Although based on a similar mass rejection of the establishment as Spain&#39;s Podemos and Greece&#39;s Syriza, the M5S is not left-wing or anti-austerity. 
 
Grillo called for a &quot;clamp-down&quot; on humanitarian visas for asylum seekers in 2014. And the movement withdrew its support for gay civil unions in parliament earlier this year at the last minute, despite 80 per cent of its voting members favouring the bill. 
 
A government in waiting? 
 
The M5S made a sensational debut by scooping 25 per cent in the 2013 general election, becoming the second biggest political force in&nbsp;Italy&nbsp;behind the centre-left Democratic&nbsp;Party&nbsp;(PD) in one swoop. 
 
It hopes&nbsp;Rome&nbsp;will be a platform for a tilt at national power but its&nbsp;party organisation remains weak: it presented candidates for just 18 per cent of the 1,368 municipalities in the latest elections. 
 
How it operates: 
 
M5S&#39;s political novices, dubbed &quot;Grillini&quot; after founder Grillo, are struggling to make their voices heard in parliament: the movement refuses to form any alliances with its opponents and cold-shoulders mainstream media. 
 
Locally elected representatives are bound by a code of conduct that requires them to seek permission from the&nbsp;top&nbsp;for every important decision. 
 
The&nbsp;party&#39;s anti-corruption banner has also been blackened by allegations it struck deals with local mobsters in Naples in southern&nbsp;Italy, while preliminary probes have been launched&nbsp;into&nbsp;the M5S mayor of Parma in the north for abuse of office and his counterpart in coastal Livorno for fraud. 
 
Who follows the joker? 
 
Although he has officially distanced himself from politics and returned to the stand-up circuit, outspoken Grillo drew bad press last month with an off-colour joke on London&#39;s new Muslim mayor and his blog is still perceived as a voice box for the movement. 
 
Smart-suited Luigi Di Maio is tipped to replace him as the movement&#39;s figurehead but&nbsp;Rome&#39;s newly elected mayor Virginia Raggi is now equally well-placed to assume the role. 
 
(AFP)

It was founded by a comedian and one of their slogans has been 'vaffanculo' or 'go screw yourself'

Italy's anti-establishment Five Star movement (M5S) has achieved a major breakthrough by winning Rome's mayoral election. The country's second biggest political force is a hard-to-describe broad church, resisting traditional categories of left and right and defined by its anti-establishment stance. How did it emerge? M5S was founded by comedian Beppe Grillo in 2009 as an alternative to established politicians and institutions in a country long blighted by corruption. It eschewed traditional political channels and the media for civic lists and citizen meet-ups, embracing the expletive "vaffanculo" ("go screw yourself") as a political slogan. Co-founder Gianroberto Casaleggio, a communications entrepreneur considered the M5S's "guru" until his death in April, created a series of online platforms for "direct democracy", and all the party's candidates are elected online. What does it want? The party is built on the dual pillars of mistrust of traditional politics and honesty of its members. It wants greater transparency, a reduction in political salaries, action in favour of the environment, a referendum on the euro, growth measures for small and medium businesses and free Internet for all. Populist or leftist? Although based on a similar mass rejection of the establishment as Spain's Podemos and Greece's Syriza, the M5S is not left-wing or anti-austerity. Grillo called for a "clamp-down" on humanitarian visas for asylum seekers in 2014. And the movement withdrew its support for gay civil unions in parliament earlier this year at the last minute, despite 80 per cent of its voting members favouring the bill. A government in waiting? The M5S made a sensational debut by scooping 25 per cent in the 2013 general election, becoming the second biggest political force in Italy behind the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) in one swoop. It hopes Rome will be a platform for a tilt at national power but its party organisation remains weak: it presented candidates for just 18 per cent of the 1,368 municipalities in the latest elections. How it operates: M5S's political novices, dubbed "Grillini" after founder Grillo, are struggling to make their voices heard in parliament: the movement refuses to form any alliances with its opponents and cold-shoulders mainstream media. Locally elected representatives are bound by a code of conduct that requires them to seek permission from the top for every important decision. The party's anti-corruption banner has also been blackened by allegations it struck deals with local mobsters in Naples in southern Italy, while preliminary probes have been launched into the M5S mayor of Parma in the north for abuse of office and his counterpart in coastal Livorno for fraud. Who follows the joker? Although he has officially distanced himself from politics and returned to the stand-up circuit, outspoken Grillo drew bad press last month with an off-colour joke on London's new Muslim mayor and his blog is still perceived as a voice box for the movement. Smart-suited Luigi Di Maio is tipped to replace him as the movement's figurehead but Rome's newly elected mayor Virginia Raggi is now equally well-placed to assume the role. (AFP)

Raggi's party is called Five Star Movement, it is anything but

After two and a half millennia of being ruled by men, Rome will wake up on Monday under new management. 
 
Virginia Raggi was&nbsp;elected on Sunday as the Italian capital&#39;s first female mayor, sweeping into city hall on the ticket of the populist Five Star movement (M5S) with the backing of two thirds of voters. 
 
A Roman born and bred, the 37-year-old lawyer is a political novice but the campaign saw her grow increasingly assured in her public performances as it became clear she was on course for victory. 
 
According to her website, mountain hikes, swimming and skiing are among the favourite pastimes of the Dire Straits fan who won plaudits during the campaign for her effortless elegance in the style-conscious Eternal City. 
 
Friends say her gentle manner belies a steely core. 
 
Raggi only entered politics five years ago, drawn in by her husband&#39;s support for M5S founder Beppe Grillo&#39;s declaration of war on the establishment and traditional political parties. 
 
The movement&#39;s anti-corruption theme struck a chord in Rome, where the centre-left mayor was forced to resign last year over an expenses scandal only months after it emerged the city had been haemorrhaging cash to organised crime. 
 
In a narrative she exploited relentlessly on the campaign trail, Raggi told AFP it was the birth of her son Matteo that convinced her she had to do something about the dilapidated city, once the capital of an empire, now plagued by potholes and rubbish. 
 
Elected to the city council in 2013, Raggi, a specialist in intellectual property, was quickly noticed for her eloquence and stubbornness. 
 
Growing up in the Saint John Lateran area of Rome, close to the Colosseum and historic centre, she was a studious child&nbsp;and a stubborn one, by her own account. 
 
&quot;I was a curious young girl, interested in many things, but very focused, as I am today. Determination never failed me,&quot; she said. 
 
 
Unflinching 
 
M5S held its primary for mayoral candidates online, and Raggi was quickly picked as a frontrunner thanks to a slick video presentation. 
 
It wasn&#39;t long before her dark eyes and chiselled features were staring out from posters in underground stations and on the side of the late-arriving buses that helped to put her in power. 
 
Public transport was one of the key issues Raggi&#39;s campaign focused on as she vowed to undo 20 years of stagnation, corruption and administrative mismanagement. 
 
Critics have said the challenges of running Rome will be too much for a political ingenue and that the party will pay a price for getting its hands dirty in the day-to-day grind of running a near-bankrupt sprawling metropolis. 
 
Raggi can however count on a honeymoon period and a new role as the poster girl of a movement looking to shore up its identity after founder Grillo decided to take a step back from politics and focus on his stand-up comedy. 
 
Rome&#39;s hard-to-please citizens appear to have embraced University of Rome graduate, admiring how Raggi, narrowing her eyes in a television debate between the candidates, bore the attacks of opponents without flinching. 
 
At the end of the feisty exchanges she softened her tone and appealed to voters with a simple message: &quot;If you want nothing to change, vote for them&quot;. 
 
One of her biggest challenges will be convincing the city she can act independently, despite signing a contract with M5S in which she pledged to toe the party line and consult it on all major administrative decisions. 
 
&quot;Four or six eyes are better than two&quot; she said in defence of that arrangement, while insisting she will be very much her own woman. 
(AFP)

The 37-year-old lawyer is the first woman to rule eternal city in two-and-a-half millenia

After two and a half millennia of being ruled by men, Rome will wake up on Monday under new management. Virginia Raggi was elected on Sunday as the Italian capital's first female mayor, sweeping into city hall on the ticket of the populist Five Star movement (M5S) with the backing of two thirds of voters. A Roman born and bred, the 37-year-old lawyer is a political novice but the campaign saw her grow increasingly assured in her public performances as it became clear she was on course for victory. According to her website, mountain hikes, swimming and skiing are among the favourite pastimes of the Dire Straits fan who won plaudits during the campaign for her effortless elegance in the style-conscious Eternal City. Friends say her gentle manner belies a steely core. Raggi only entered politics five years ago, drawn in by her husband's support for M5S founder Beppe Grillo's declaration of war on the establishment and traditional political parties. The movement's anti-corruption theme struck a chord in Rome, where the centre-left mayor was forced to resign last year over an expenses scandal only months after it emerged the city had been haemorrhaging cash to organised crime. In a narrative she exploited relentlessly on the campaign trail, Raggi told AFP it was the birth of her son Matteo that convinced her she had to do something about the dilapidated city, once the capital of an empire, now plagued by potholes and rubbish. Elected to the city council in 2013, Raggi, a specialist in intellectual property, was quickly noticed for her eloquence and stubbornness. Growing up in the Saint John Lateran area of Rome, close to the Colosseum and historic centre, she was a studious child and a stubborn one, by her own account. "I was a curious young girl, interested in many things, but very focused, as I am today. Determination never failed me," she said. Unflinching M5S held its primary for mayoral candidates online, and Raggi was quickly picked as a frontrunner thanks to a slick video presentation. It wasn't long before her dark eyes and chiselled features were staring out from posters in underground stations and on the side of the late-arriving buses that helped to put her in power. Public transport was one of the key issues Raggi's campaign focused on as she vowed to undo 20 years of stagnation, corruption and administrative mismanagement. Critics have said the challenges of running Rome will be too much for a political ingenue and that the party will pay a price for getting its hands dirty in the day-to-day grind of running a near-bankrupt sprawling metropolis. Raggi can however count on a honeymoon period and a new role as the poster girl of a movement looking to shore up its identity after founder Grillo decided to take a step back from politics and focus on his stand-up comedy. Rome's hard-to-please citizens appear to have embraced University of Rome graduate, admiring how Raggi, narrowing her eyes in a television debate between the candidates, bore the attacks of opponents without flinching. At the end of the feisty exchanges she softened her tone and appealed to voters with a simple message: "If you want nothing to change, vote for them". One of her biggest challenges will be convincing the city she can act independently, despite signing a contract with M5S in which she pledged to toe the party line and consult it on all major administrative decisions. "Four or six eyes are better than two" she said in defence of that arrangement, while insisting she will be very much her own woman. (AFP)

Virginia Raggi elected mayor of Rome