Italy’s populist parties asked for more time to form a government on Monday as they thrashed out a wild spending spree that would cost the country more than €100 billion (£88 billion) and set it on a collision course with the EU.
Luigi Di Maio, the head of the Five Star Movement, and Matteo Salvini, the leader of The League, met 76-year-old president Sergio Mattarella at his palatial residence on the Quirinal Hill in Rome.
After his talks with the president, Mr Di Maio said they were asking for “a few more days” in order to fine-tune policies and reach a deal.
"We asked the president for more time to make a contract for government," Mr Di Maio said.
The details of the accord with The League would…
Register for free to read this article, or log in to your Telegraph account
Register
Log in
Click Here: essendon bombers guernsey 2019