ROME – Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is about to resign, but then hopes to form a new government that can count on a broader majority, national newspapers reported Monday.
“My goal is to find an agreement that provides a clear political perspective to govern until the end of the legislation,” Conte said, according to La Repubblica newspaper.
The report added that Conte could hand in his resignation to the head of state as early as Tuesday and then assemble a new coalition that would draw on centrist and so-called “responsible” MPs.
There was no immediate response from the Prime Minister’s office.
Conte’s government was in turmoil earlier this month when a junior partner, the Italia Viva party led by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, successively withdrew from the cabinet over how to tackle the coronavirus crisis.
Although Conte survived a vote of confidence in parliament last week, he failed to gain an absolute majority in the Senate, meaning he will struggle to implement a policy agenda unless he can draw on new support.
The prime minister has appealed to centrist and unoriented Senate lawmakers to join the government, but few have responded so far.
The Corriere della Sera newspaper said Conte wanted to get Renzi back on board and was looking for a “government of national security” that would also get the support of some moderate center-right politicians.
To put pressure on lawmakers, major government parties have said quick elections two years ahead of schedule will be the only way out of the political deadlock unless a quick solution is found.