Italy's 5-Stars Pose Conditions To Continue Supporting Draghi Government

Italy's 5-Star Movement, one of the main coalition parties supporting the government headed by Premier Mario Draghi, confirmed its backing to the Cabinet on Wednesday but also posed some conditions for it.

After a one-hour meeting with Draghi, the 5-Star leader Giuseppe Conte told reporters that he handed a document to the prime minister, including the main proposals coming from the party.

"We are available to share the responsibility to govern, but we need a strong sign of discontinuity," Conte said, adding that the movement has "accumulated a strong political unease."

The 5-Stars are part of a litigious coalition government that also includes the center-left Democratic Party and the right-wing League. In recent months, the coalition has faced strong divisions over key economic policies and the Italian position on the Ukrainian war, bringing the 5-Star Movement on the verge of withdrawing its support to the government.

In the document handed to Draghi, the movement highlights the need to agree to an "extraordinary" intervention to help families and businesses struggling with a spike in energy prices and the prospect of a new economic recession.

Conte also said his party expects a strong government effort to reduce labor costs – which weigh on companies making hiring very expensive – while guaranteeing workers a minimum salary.

The 5-Star leader said Draghi asked for "some time" to evaluate their requests, adding he was not expecting an immediate response on such complex issues. -