Italy's Di Maio Expected To Step Down As M5S Head

The head of Italy's anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S), which co-governs the country, was set to step down as party leader Wednesday in a move likely to trigger political shockwaves

Rome, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jan, 2020 ) :The head of Italy's anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S), which co-governs the country, was set to step down as party leader Wednesday in a move likely to trigger political shockwaves.

M5S is the largest party in Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's coalition government, and Luigi Di Maio's exit could further weaken an already fragile alliance with the centre-left Democratic Party (PD).

Di Maio, 33, was expected to announce his resignation at a party meeting in the afternoon, Italian newspapers said.

That comes days ahead of a key regional poll pitting the M5S and PD against Matteo Salvini's far-right opposition League.

The League, which enjoys a significant lead in national polls, hopes that defeating the M5S and PD on Sunday in Emilia Romagna -- a historic heartland of the left -- will spark a crisis and bring down the government.

The M5S was likely to perform particularly badly in the vote, according to the last polls ahead of the ballot.

Di Maio was expected to remain foreign minister, but reportedly told relatives "this is the time to take a step back, I am exhausted," online Italian newspaper TIP said.

The governing coalition's main stabilising factor is a joint fear of snap elections which could hand power to Salvini.

A League victory would increase tensions considerably, with the PD likely to blame the M5S for refusing to join forces behind a single candidate -- thus splitting the anti-Salvini vote.

Di Maio has been head of the M5S since September 2017, but has faced mounting internal dissent as the movement loses popularity and lawmakers abandon it.

Two more lawmakers said Tuesday they were quitting the party, which has hemorrhaged over 15 members since forming the coalition with the PD in September.

Senator Vito Crimi was slated to temporarily take over as chief ahead of a party conference due in March.