ROME – Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is on the verge of resigning, but then hopes to form a new government that can have a wider majority, national newspapers reported.
“My goal is to find an agreement that gives a clear political perspective to govern until the end of the legislation,” Conte said, according to the newspaper La Repubblica.
The report added that Conte could hand over his resignation to the head of state as early as Tuesday and then convene a new coalition that would turn to centrist and so-called “responsible” members of parliament.
There was no immediate comment from the prime minister’s office.
Conte’s government was embroiled earlier this month when a minor partner, the Italia Viva party, led by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, withdrew consecutively from the cabinet to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
Although Conte survived a post-parliament confidence vote last week, he failed to get an absolute majority in the Senate, meaning he will fight to adopt any political agenda unless he can turn to new support.
The prime minister has called on centrist and non-aligned Senate lawmakers to join ranks in government, but few have responded so far.
The Corriere della Sera newspaper said Conte wanted to get Renzi back and wanted to create a “national security government,” which would also have the support of some moderate center-right politicians.
Aiming to put pressure on lawmakers, major ruling parties have said early elections, two years ahead of schedule, will be the only way out of the political impasse unless a solution is found quickly.