Grillo rejects Bersani's call for Italy coalition
Centre-left leader calls on former comedian to help govern amid prospect of hung parliament
Beppe Grillo, whose populist movement was the top vote-getter in Italy's election this week, rejected a call by Democratic Party leader Pier Luigi Bersani to back a coalition.
To have any chance to govern, Bersani's bloc needs to bring in Grillo or join with former prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, who lost to Bersani by less than half a percentage point in the lower house. No coalition was able to obtain a majority in the Senate.
Grillo, whose Five Star Movement has rejected allying itself with established parties, "won't give any vote of confidence to the PD or others", he wrote on his blog yesterday. "It will vote on the laws that reflect its own programme, no matter who puts them out. If Bersani wants to propose the abolition of public funding to parties including funds for the past election, we will vote in favour of it straight away."
The prospect of a hung parliament and concern the country may need new elections roiled markets, with the benchmark FTSE MIB stock index shedding almost 5 per cent yesterday and bond yields rising.
They must say what they want to do for this country and for their children
Bersani yesterday said Grillo's movement must outline their plans.